Umberto II -- the last king of Italy

Luigi Speranza

Umberto II, occasionally anglicized as Humbert II, (15 September 1904 – 18 March 1983) was the last King of Italy, nicknamed the King of May (Italian: Re di Maggio).

Re Umberto II was born at Racconigi, in Piedmont.

He was the third child, and the only son, of Re Vittorio Emmanuele III of Italy and Princess Elena di Montenegro.

Re Umberto II served as the last King of Italy for slightly over a month, from 9 May 1946 to 12 June 1946.

He renounced the title of King of Albania, which was held by his father after Italy's invasion of the country, and personally asked King Zog I for forgiveness for taking his throne.

Umberto was married in Rome on 8 January 1930 to Marie-José of Belgium (1906–2001).

His children included:

Maria Pia (born 1934)
Vittorio Emanuele (born 1937)
Maria Gabriella (born 1940)
Maria Beatrice (born 1943).

The Prince of Piedmont was born in Racconigi and educated to a military career and in time became the commander in chief of the Northern Armies, and then of the Southern ones.

However, his role was merely formal, the de facto command belonging to Benito Mussolini.

By mutual agreement, Umberto and Mussolini always kept a distance.

An attempted assassination of the Prince took place in Brussels on 24 October 1929, the day of the announcement of his betrothal to Princess Marie José.

The Prince was about to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Belgian Unknown Soldier at the foot of the Congreskolom.

With a cry of 'Down with Mussolini!' the culprit, Fernando de Rosa, fired a single shot that missed the Prince of Piedmont.

De Rosa was arrested and under interrogation claimed to be a member of the Second International.

It has been conjectured that Mussolini had collected a secret dossier on Umberto, but this folder (which is said to have been found after the dictator was shot), was never seen publicly.

Following the Savoyards' tradition ("Only one Savoy reigns at a time"), he kept apart from active politics until he was finally named Lieutenant General of the Realm.

Only in one case, while he was in Germany for a royal wedding, did he make an exception —Adolf Hitler asked for a meeting.

This action was not considered proper, given the international situation, and afterwards Umberto was even more rigorously excluded from political events.

On 29 October 1942, Umberto was awarded the rank of Marshal of Italy (Maresciallo d'Italia).

In 1943, the Crown Princess Maria José, the daughter of King Albert I of Belgium, involved herself in vain attempts to arrange a separate peace treaty between Italy and the United States, and her interlocutor from the Vatican was Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, a senior diplomat who later became Pope Paul VI.

Her attempts were not sponsored by the king and Umberto was not (directly, at least) involved in them.

After her failure (she never met the American agents), she was sent with her children to Sarre, in Aosta Valley, and isolated from the political life of the Royal House.

*****************************************
Following the overthrow of Benito Mussolini in 1944, King Victor Emmanuel handed over his constitutional functions to Umberto II, who was made Lieutenant General of the Realm, and left Italy for Egypt.

Umberto earned for himself widespread praise for his role in the following three years.

*******************************************
Indeed, had Vittorio Emmanuele III handed over
the throne in 1943, the monarchy would have
won the 1946 referendum on its survival.
*****************************************

Vittorio Emmanuele III's failure to do so proved to be one of his many major misjudgments.

Many Italian monarchists expressed doubts about the correctness of the referendum, claiming that millions of voters, many of them pro-monarchist, were unable to vote because they had not yet been able to return to their own local areas to register.

Nor had the issue of Italy's borders, and so the voting rights of those in disputed areas, been satisfactorily clarified.

Other allegations too have been made about voter manipulation, while even the issue of how to interpret the votes became controversial, as it appeared that not just a majority of those validly voting but of those votes cast (including spoiled votes), was needed to reach an outcome in the event the monarchy lost by a tight margin.

Umberto II had by the time of the referendum become king, Vittorio Emmanuele III having reluctantly and belatedly abdicated a few weeks before.

Umberto III served as king for 33 days.

The monarchy formally ended on 12 June 1946 and Umberto III became a king in exile, leaving Italy forever.

Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi assumed office as Italy's interim Head of State.

Re Umberto III and Maria José separated in exile.

It had been an (badly) arranged marriage, following a long tradition of royal families, even if some observers alleged that she was really fascinated by her husband.

Re Umberto II lived for 37 years in exile, in Cascais in Portugal, a popular old gentleman, nicknamed "Europe's grandfather", at many of Europe's royal weddings.

During Re Umberto II's lifetime, the 1947 constitution of the Italian Republic barred all male heirs to the defunct Italian throne from setting foot on Italian soil again.

Female members of the Savoy family were not barred except consort queens.

Re Umberto II traveled extensively during exile, and was often to be seen in Mexico visiting his daughter, and in the company of friends like Commendatore Flavio Mansi Tazzer.

President Sandro Pertini wanted Re Umberto II to be allowed to return to his native country by the Italian parliament when he was dying in 1983.

Ultimately, however, he died in Geneva and was interred in Hautecombe Abbey.

No representative of the Italian government attended his funeral.

Honours

Grand Master of the Supreme Order of the Annunziata

Grand Master of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus

Grand Master of the Civil Order of Savoy

Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Italy

Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Knight of the Order of Saint Hubert

Knight of the Order of Saint Januarius

Knight of the Order of the Elephant

Knight of the Order of the Seraphim

Knight of the Order of Saint Andrew

Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky

Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle

Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Anne

Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Imperial House of Romanov)

Grand Cross of the Order of Carol I of Romania

Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold I

Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Bailiff Grand Cross of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George[1]

Ancestry and even the very filiation of Umberto I of Savoy
is not yet clear, with four possibilities in open, one of them giving him a Teutonic ancestry including as his ancestor Widukind.

Christian Settipani proved through contemporary documents that Arnulf of Metz and his ancestors were Frankish in male line, since they were ruled by the Frankish Law.

1. Umberto I of Savoy, 980 - 1047

2. Otto of Savoy, 1015–1057

3. Amadeeo II of Savoy, 1039–1080

4. Umbert II of Savoy, 1070–1103

5.Amadeus III of Savoy, 1095–1148

6.Humbert III of Savoy, 1135–1189

7.Thomas I of Savoy, 1176–1233

8.Thomas II, Count of Piedmont, 1199–1259

9.Amadeus V, Count of Savoy, 1251–1323

10.Aimone, Count of Savoy, 1291–1343

11.Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, 1334–1383

12.Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy, 1360–1391

13.Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy, 1383–1451

14.Louis, Duke of Savoy, 1402–1465

15.Philip II, Duke of Savoy, 1438–1497

16.Charles III, Duke of Savoy, 1486–1553

17.Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, 1528–1580

18.Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, 1562–1630

19.Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano, 1596–1656

20.Emmanuel Philibert, Prince of Carignan, 1628–1709

21.Victor Amadeus I, Prince of Carignan, 1690–1741

22.Louis Victor, Prince of Carignan, 1721–1778

23.Victor Amadeus II, Prince of Carignan, 1743–1780

24.Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Carignan, 1770–1800

25.Charles Albert of Sardinia, 1798–1849

26.Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, 1820–1878

27.Umberto I of Italy, 1844–1900

28.Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, 1869–1947

29.Umberto II of Italy, 1904–1983

Ancestors of Umberto II of Italy


16. Charles Albert of Sardinia



8. Victor Emmanuel II of Italy



17. Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria



4. Umberto I of Italy



18. Archduke Rainer of Austria



9. Archduchess Adelaide of Austria



19. Princess Elisabeth of Savoy



2. Victor Emmanuel III of Italy



20. Charles Albert of Sardinia (= 16)



10. Prince Ferdinand of Savoy, Duke of Genoa



21. Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (= 17)



5. Princess Margherita of Savoy



22. John of Saxony



11. Princess Elizabeth of Saxony



23. Amalie Auguste of Bavaria



1. Umberto II of Italy



24. Sava Petrović-Njegoš



12. Mirko Petrović-Njegoš



25. Angelika Radamović



6. Nicholas I of Montenegro



26. Drago Martinović



13. Anastasija Martinović



27. Stana Martinović



3. Princess Elena of Montenegro



28. Petar Perkov Vukotić



14. Petar Vukotić



29. Stania Milić



7. Milena Vukotić



30. Tadija Voivodić



15. Jelena Voivodić



31. Milica Pavićević






[edit] See alsoFascism
Benito Mussolini
Birth of the Italian Republic
List of shortest reigning monarchs of all time
[edit] References1.^ "Royal House of Italy - Genealogy of the Royal House". European Royal Houses website. http://www.chivalricorders.org/royalty/gotha/italygen.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
2.^ http://web.genealogie.free.fr/Les_dynasties/Les_dynasties_celebres/Italie/Dynastie_de_Savoie.htm
3.^ http://genealogy.euweb.cz/savoy/savoy1.html
4.^ http://www.geneall.net/I/per_page.php?id=8
[edit] Additional readingDenis Mack Smith Italy and Its Monarchy (Yale University Press, 1989)
Robert Katz The Fall of the House of Savoy
[edit] External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Umberto II of Italy

Royal House of Italy
Royal House of Belgium
Genealogy of recent members of the House of Savoy
a portrait of his
Website with Information on Italian Royal news stories
Umberto II of Italy
House of Savoy
Born: 15 September 1904 Died: 19 March 1983
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Victor Emmanuel III King of Italy
9 May 1946 - 12 June 1946 Monarchy abolished
(Alcide De Gasperi as Provisional Head of State)

Titles in pretence
Loss of title

Republic declared — TITULAR —
King of Italy
12 June 1946 - 19 March 1983 Succeeded by
Succession Dispute: Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples or Amedeo, 5th Duke of Aosta




[show]v · d · eKings of Italy between 1861 and 1946

Victor Emmanuel II (1861–1878) · Umberto I (1878–1900) · Victor Emmanuel III (1900–1946) · Umberto II (1946) Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples*

*denotes titular king

[show]v · d · eMarshals of Italy

Graf Luigi Cadorna · Armando Diaz · Emanuele Filiberto of Aosta · Pietro Badoglio · Enrico Caviglia · Gaetano Giardino · Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi · Emilio De Bono · Rodolfo Graziani · Ugo Cavallero · Ettore Bastico · Umberto II of Italy · Giovanni Messe
Paolo Thaon di Revel (Grandadmiral)
Italo Balbo (Marshal of the Air Force)

[show]v · d · ePrinces of Piedmont

Charles (1456–1471) · Emmanuel Philibert (1536–1553) · Charles Emmanuel I (1562–1580) · Philip Emmanuel (1586–1605) · Victor Amadeus I (1587–1630) · Francis Hyacinth (1632–1637) · Victor Amadeus II (1666–1675) · Victor Amadeus (1699–1715) · Charles Emmanuel III (1715–1730) · Charles Emmanuel IV (1751–1796) · Umberto I (1844–1878) · Victor Emmanuel III (1878–1900) · Umberto II (1904–1947) · Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples*

*denotes titular Prince

[show]v · d · ePrinces of Savoy

1st Generation none

2nd Generation Prince Anthony · Prince Anthony · Louis, Duke of Savoy · Amadeus, Prince of Piemont · Philip, Prince of Achaea

3rd Generation Amadeus, Duke of Savoy · Louis, Count of Geneva · Prince Giovanni · Philip, Duke of Savoy · Giano, Count of Faucigny and Geneva · Pietro, Bishop of Geneva · Prince Aimone · Prince Giacomo · Giovanni Ludovico, Bishop of Geneva · Jacques, Count of Romont

4th Generation Prince Luigi · Carlo, Prince of Piedmont · Philibert, Duke of Savoy · Prince Bernardo · Charles, Duke of Savoy · James Louis, Count of Genevois · Prince Gian Claudio Galeazzo · Prince Girolamo · Philibert, Duke of Savoy · Charles, Duke of Savoy · Prince Louis · Philippe, Duke of Nemours · Prince Assolone · Prince Giovanni Amedeo · Prince Emanuele Filiberto Adriano · Prince Louis · Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy

5th Generation Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy · Jacques, Duke of Nemours

6th Generation Filippo Emanuele, Prince of Piedmont · Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy · Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Nemours · Henri, Prince de Genevois · Prince Louis · Prince François Paul · Henri, Duke of Nemours · Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano · Maurice, Cardinal of Savoy · Prince Emmanuel Filibert

7th Generation Prince Louis Amadeus · Francis Hyacinth, Duke of Savoy · Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy · Emmanuel Philibert, Prince of Carignano · Joseph Emmanuel, Count of Soissons · Eugene Maurice, Count of Soissons

8th Generation Victor Amadeus II, King of Sardinia · Victor Amadeus, Prince of Carignano · Louis Thomas, Count of Soissons · Emanuel Philibert, Count of Dreux · Prince Philippe · Prince Eugene · Prince Louis Jules

9th Generation Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont · Charles Emmanuel III, King of Sardinia · Emanuele Philibert, Duke of Chablais · Louis Victor, Prince of Carignano · Eugenio, Count of Villafranca · Prince Tommaso · Emmanuel Thomas, Count of Soissons

10th Generation Victor Amadeus, Duke of Aosta · Victor Amadeus III, King of Sardinia · Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta · Carlo, Duke of Chablais · Carlo, Duke of Aosta · Benedetto, Duke of Chablais · Victor Amadeus II, Prince of Carignano · Prince Tommaso · Eugene Jean, Count of Soissons · Giuseppe Maria, Count of Villafranca

11th Generation Charles Emmanuel IV, King of Sardinia · Amedeus Alexander, Duke of Montferrat · Victor Emmanuel I, King of Sardinia · Maurizio, Duke of Montferrat · Charles Felix, King of Sardinia · Giuseppe, Count of Asti · Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Carignano · Eugenio, Duke of Carignano

12th Generation Charles Albert, King of Sardinia

13th Generation Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy · Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa

14th Generation Umberto I of Italy · Amadeo I, King of Spain · Oddone, Duke of Montferrat · Thomas, Duke of Genoa**

15th Generation Victor Emmanuel III of Italy · Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta*** · Vittorio Emanuele, Count of Turin*** · Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi*** · Umberto, Count of Salemi*** · Ferdinando, Duke of Genoa** · Filiberto, Duke of Genoa** · Adalberto, Duke of Bergamo** · Eugenio, Duke of Genoa**

16th Generation Umberto II of Italy · Amedeo, Duke of Aosta*** · Aimone, Duke of Aosta***

17th Generation Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples · Amedeo, Duke of Aosta***

18th Generation Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice and Piedmont · Aimone, Duke of Apulia***

19th generation Prince Umberto*** · Prince Amedeo***

*member of a cadet branch of the House of Savoy
**Prince of Savoy-Genoa
***Prince of Savoy-Aosta

Persondata
Name Umberto 02 Of Italy
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth 15 September 1904
Place of birth Racconigi, province of Cuneo, Italy
Date of death 18 March 1983
Place of death Geneva, Switzerland
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto_II_of_Italy"
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