After Napoleon III annexed the Kingdom of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele II, who had fled into exile in London, established the Sardinian Government-in-Exile with British assistance.
Later, the French annexed the rest of Italy. For the needs of Italy's anti-French movement, Vittorio Emanuele II was passively pushed into the role of leader.
The reason was simple: the barefoot feared not those with shoes. Having nothing left to lose, Vittorio Emanuele II had the courage to fight the French to the bitter end.
The other royal houses of the various states were different. Though the French had taken their countries, they still retained their crowns in name and received an annual pension.
Under these circumstances, although everyone was deeply dissatisfied, none dared to step forward and fight the French to the death. They merely engaged in petty schemes behind the scenes.
At first, the Sardinian Independence Organization had support only from the British, and its overall structure remained stable. Later, when it expanded into the Italian Independence Organization, the situation changed.
Austria also became a supporter of the independence organization. With another patron footing the bill, many matters became complicated.
In 1878, after Vittorio Emanuele II died, his son inherited the throne at the tender age of nine. Naturally, a little brat had no ability to settle the internal conflicts.
The Italian Independence Organization existed in name only, gradually splitting into four factions representing the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Papal States, Tuscany, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Italy's independence movement consequently fell into a slump. Even after the Paris Revolution broke out and they followed suit by launching an uprising, it was no more than a flash in the pan.
Even when a lion fights a rabbit, it uses all its strength. With a European war about to erupt, Franz