On 17 March 1805, the Kingdom of Italy is founded, with Napoleon Bonaparte as King. Image: The Iron Crown of Lombardy, from Cesare Cantù Grande illustrazione del Lombardo-Veneto ossia storia delle città, dei borghi, comuni, castelli, ecc. fino ai tempi moderni Milano, Corona e Caimi Editori, 1858. This image is in the public domain in the United States because its copyright has expired.

This crowning of Napoleon as King of Italy is a result of the French conquest of Italy. Napoleon was crowned King of Italy with the iron crown of Lombardy on 26 May 1805 (crown pictured above). His full title was "Emperor of the French and King of Italy."

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On 26 May 1805, Napoleon crowns himself King of Italy in Milan Cathedral, with the iron crown of Lombardy. Image: The Iron Crown of Lombardy, from Cesare Cantù Grande illustrazione del Lombardo-Veneto ossia storia delle città, dei borghi, comuni, castelli, ecc. fino ai tempi moderni Milano, Corona e Caimi Editori, 1858. This image is in the public domain in the United States because its copyright has expired.

In a flamboyant and highly theatrical gesture, Napoleon Bonaparte signifies his political and military dominance over the Italian peninsula with a ceremony in Milan Cathedral, where he crowned himself King of Italy with the ancient, iconic iron crown of Lombardy. This crowning of Napoleon as King is a result of the French conquest of Italy. His full title was "Emperor of the French and King of Italy."

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The Battle of Magenta: On 4 June 1859, the combined armies of France and Sardinians defeat the Austrians; Austria withdraws from part of Lombardy; Napoleon III and Victor Emanuel triumphantly enter Milan. Image: Adolphe Yvon, Battle of Magenta (1863), Uniformes 68 (1982). This image is in the public domain in the United States because its copyright has expired.

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Battle of Solferino on 24 June 1859: On this date, the French defeat Austria at Solferino, forcing a full retreat of the Austrians from Lombardy in Northern Italy. Image: Luigi Norfini, Battaglia di San Martino (c. 1860s). This image is in the public domain in the United States because its copyright has expired.

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On February 1861, Vittorio Emanuele II of Piedmont is crowned king of Italy: Italy is formally united, with Turin as the capital city. Image: Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoia (c. 1840s-1850s), Museo nazionale del Risorgimento, Torino (author unknown). This image is in the public domain in the United States because its copyright has expired.

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The Franco-Prussian War was fought from 19 July 1870 to 10 May 1871. The war ended with the defeat of Napoleon III and the unification of Germany; Italy gained the Papal States and Rome became the capital of Italy. Image: Frederick Barnard, "Discussing the War in a Paris Café" - a scene from the brief interim between the Battle of Sedan and Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, published in The Illustrated London News, 17 September 1870. This image is in the public domain in the United States because its copyright has expired.

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Plebiscite annexes Rome and Latium to the Kingdom of Italy, 2 October 1870. This event marks the final phase of the unification of Italy.

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