Victor Emmanuel II vs Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

As King of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II retained the Statuto Albertino, a constitution granted by his father. This constitution became the legal foundation of the Kingdom of Italy, establishing a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.

Victor Emmanuel II sent Sardinian troops to fight alongside France and Britain in the Crimean War. This participation elevated Sardinia's diplomatic standing, leading to French support for Italian unification in the subsequent Plombi

Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed King of Italy by the first Italian Parliament in Turin. This event formally unified most of the Italian peninsula under the House of Savoy, with the exception of Venetia and Rome, marking the birth of the Kingdom of Italy.

Following the Austro-Prussian War, Italy, allied with Prussia, annexed Venetia from Austria. Victor Emmanuel II's forces suffered defeats on land but gained the territory through the Treaty of Vienna, completing a key step in unification.

Italian troops under Victor Emmanuel II breached the Porta Pia in Rome, completing the unification of Italy. The Papal States were annexed, and Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, ending the temporal power of the Pope.

Victor Emmanuel II died in Rome, having unified Italy under his rule. His death marked the end of the founding era of the Kingdom of Italy, and he was buried in the Pantheon, becoming a symbol of Italian unification.

Wilhelmina became queen of the Netherlands at age 10 after her father William III's death. Her mother Emma served as regent until 1898, when Wilhelmina was inaugurated at age 18.

Wilhelmina maintained Dutch neutrality throughout World War I, despite pressure from both Allied and Central Powers. The Netherlands remained neutral but faced economic hardship and refugee crises.

Germany invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940. Wilhelmina fled to London with her government, establishing a government-in-exile. The Dutch army surrendered after five days, but the queen continued the fight from abroad.

From London, Wilhelmina led the Dutch government-in-exile, broadcasting radio messages to occupied Netherlands. She became a symbol of resistance, maintaining Dutch sovereignty and coordinating with Allied forces.

Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands in May 1945 after liberation. She oversaw post-war reconstruction, including the restoration of infrastructure, the economy, and the political system.

Wilhelmina abdicated the throne on September 4, 1948, after 58 years of reign. She cited health reasons and a desire to pass responsibility to her daughter Juliana, marking the first Dutch abdication in centuries.