As the Anglo-Austrian game over South Africa had just begun, a significant change had already taken place on the European Continent. This time, Napoleon III showed his decisiveness by sending troops to take control of the governments of the Italian States.
Clearly, his patience had reached its limit, and he was no longer willing to dawdle with these characters.
After suppressing the weak resistance of the States, under the threat of bayonets, the governments were forced to agree to join the Kingdom of Sardinia to form the Italian Empire.
On August 24, 1870, the Italian Empire held its first congress, in which the assembly elected Napoleon III as Emperor.
The following day, Napoleon III, unable to wait, was crowned in Rome as the Italian Emperor, that is, Emperor Napoleon I of Italy.
