Family and Children
In 1842 he married his first cousin once removed (by Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor) Adelaide of Austria (1822–1855). By her he had eight children:
- Maria Clotilde (1843–1911), who married Napoléon Joseph (the Prince Napoléon). Their grandson Prince Louis Napoléon was the Bonapartist pretender to the French imperial throne.
- Umberto (1844–1900), later King of Italy.
- Amedeo (1845–1890), later King of Spain.
- Oddone Eugenio Maria (1846–1866), Duke of Montferrat.
- Maria Pia (1847–1911), who married King Louis of Portugal.
- Carlo Alberto (1851–1854), Duke of Chablais.
- Vittorio Emanuele (6 July 1852 – 6 July 1852).
- Vittorio Emanuele (18 January 1855 – 17 May 1855), Count of Genoa.
In 1869 he married morganatically his principal mistress Rosa Vercellana (3 June 1833 – 26 December 1885). Popularly known in Piedmontese as "Bela Rosin", she was born a commoner but made Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda in 1858. Their offspring were:
- Vittoria Guerrieri (2 December 1848 – 1905), married three times and had issue.
- Emanuele Alberto Guerrieri (16 March 1851 – 1894), Count of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda, married and had issue.
In addition to his morganatic second wife, Victor Emanuel II had several other mistresses:
—Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione, who when as the mistress of Napoleon III pleaded the case for Italian unification.
—Laura Bon at Stupinigi, who bore him two children:
- Stillborn son (1852).
- Emanuela Maria Alberta Vittoria di Roverbella (6 September 1853 - 1880/1890).
—Virginia Rho at Turin, mother of two children:
- Vittorio di Rho (1861 – Turin, 10 October 1913). He became a notable photographer.
- Maria Pia di Rho (25 February 1866 – Vienna, 19 April 1947).
—Unknown Mistress at Mondovì, mother of:
- Donato Etna (15 June 1858 – Turin, 11 December 1938). He became a much decorated soldier.
—Baroness Vittoria Duplessis, who bore him:
- A daughter, perhaps named Savoiarda. She died as an infant.
Read more about this topic: Victor Emmanuel II Of Italy
Famous quotes containing the words family and/or children:
“—the dark ajar, the rocks breaking with light,
and undisturbed, unbreathing flame,
colorless, sparkless, freely fed on straw,
and, lulled within, a family with pets,
—and looked and looked our infant sight away.”
—Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979)
“My mother and father are the only people on the whole planet for whom I will never begrudge a thing. Should I achieve great things, it is the work of their hands; they are splendid people and their absolute love of their children places them above the highest praise. It cloaks all of their shortcomings, shortcomings that may have resulted from a difficult life.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)