The modern state of Italy dates to 1870. It was founded as a monarchy under Vittorio Emmanuele of Savoy, becoming a parliamentary republic in 1948, following World War II. From the late Middle Ages through the first half of the 19th century, the Italian peninsula was divided into politically distinct republics (Florence, Venice), dukedoms (Milan, Urbino, and eventually Florence), the Papal States (centered around Rome), and kingdoms (Naples and Sicily).