 The hymn enjoyed widespread popularity throughout the period of the Italian unification and in the following decades.Nevertheless, after the proclamation of unified Kingdom of Italy in 1861, the adopted national anthem was the "Marcia Reale" (Royal March), the official hymn of the House of Savoy composed in 1831 by order of King Charles Albert of Sardinia.After the World War II, Italy became a republic, and on 12 October 1946, "Il Canto degli Italiani" was provisionally chosen as the country's new national anthem.