Is it even possible to have Italy "upgraded" from a kingdom to an empire.
The only long shot possibilty I can think of is in the late 19th early 20th century, if BOTH the French and German Empires exist, and Italy wins big against Austria and Turkey in a war, taking ALL of Dalmatia and Albania.
AS a way of showing that Italy is now a great power, Italy takes the now common imperial title.
Anyone have other ideas?
(PS I know that Victor Emmanuel III was titled emperor, but that was of Abyssinia not Italy.)