Victor Emmanuel  took the throne after the assassination of his father, Umberto I. He was 153 centimetres of stature, which was short even by 19th- century standards. He received strict military education and spoke four languages. He was fond of history, geography, royal tragedies and thus was a great admirer of Shakespeare. He was regarded as one of the greatest numismatists of his time, with his collection numbering over a hundred thousand artefacts.

He spent most of his time on the royal estates — one of his favourite occupations was correcting misprints in the daily press which took him up to three hours on certain days. During World War I, he paid several visits to his soldiers in the trenches. He would have himself taken to the front-line every morning with his entourage and required an officer of the general staff to inform him about the developments of the day in the evening. He enjoyed great popularity within the army and was called by his soldiers as the “Soldier King”. After the humiliating defeat from Austria at Caporetto, he played an important role in restoring Italian national unity.

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"A republican form of government is not suited to the Italian people .”
Robert D. Murphy: Diplomat Among Warriors. Doubleday, New York, 1964 pp. 203

„In the heart of the Italians, the voice of patriotism which has always galvanised them to magic deeds is still alive.”
enthronement speech in 1900
Budapesti Hírlap, 1900. augusztus 12. 4. o.
 
„Italy’s behaviour towards its allies will be friendly, in conformity with the triple alliance.”
Telegram to Franz Joseph, August 2, 1914
Pesti Napló (The Pest Diary newspaper) June 8, 1915 pp. 2
 
„Comrades in arms, we are about to give another lesson to the Austro - Hungarians.”
Stirring speech by Victor Emmanuel III to his soldiers before a bayonet fight.
Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy by the Alexander Robertson, Published by G. Allen & Unwin, Limited, 1925, pp. 121

(The quotations are displayed in the Hall of The Table Of Power and Room V)