# Victor Emanuel — Hadrian the Seventh character guide

> Victor Emanuel in Hadrian the Seventh by Frederick Rolfe.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Southern Emperor Victor Emanuel, Victor, Victor Emanuel III

**First appearance:** 0013-x

## Snapshot

The King of Italy who will not visit the Pope because the Pope must first visit him—a stubborn, decent monarch reading coin catalogues while Rome fills with foreign sovereigns.

## Who they are

Victor Emanuel is the Southern Emperor who keeps away from the Vatican over a point of protocol inherited from his father, and Hadrian, rather than wait, resolves to go to him. He lines the streets with troops for a ceremony that is not his, behaves 'extremely well' under the occupation of his own capital by visiting kings, and receives the Pope in a light-grey flannel suit with proofs of his numismatic catalogue on the desk. His stiff, pale dignity and his family—the Empress Elena, the boy Filiberto—make the reconciliation a human scene rather than a diplomatic one.

## Relationships

### [George Semphill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/characters/george_semphill)

_professional_

A political alliance, with Semphill serving as a confidant or agent for Victor Emanuel.

### [George Semphill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/characters/george_semphill)

_professional_

A political alliance, with Semphill serving as a confidant or agent for Victor Emanuel.

## In the story

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters/xiii)

Southern Emperor who converses with the Kaiser about historical grievances with the Vatican.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters/xvii)

Responds to the scheme from Windsor Castle, pledges funds and nominates the Duke of Aosta as trustee.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters/xxiv)

The Southern Emperor is absent from the anniversary reception due to a personal idea; Hadrian decides to visit him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/characters/victor_emanuel
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/characters