The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-31
announcing the assassination of KING
Humbert, and urging him to hasten nome
THE DEAD KING.
Fifty-Six Years of Age and Has Been
on the Throne Since 1878.

tI1tS-SlA i ears Oh f1sC sAhSA AAs''
on the Throne Since 1878.
Humberto I. was born March IA, ls4is
and was the eldest son OF King N1tior.o
Emanuele II. OF Italy, and the AEcn-
duchess Adelaide of Austria. He succeed
ed to the throne upon the death OF his
father on January 9, 1878. He was married
April %. 1865, to Margherita, only daush-
ter of Prince Ferd!nando of Savoy, DUKE
of Genoa, The Queen survives
The Kings only son, who will succeed
him to the throne is Vittoro Enanuele OF
Savoy, Prince of Naples, who was oorh
November II, 1869, and was married &c
tober q, 1886, to Princess Helena, daughtel
of Nicholas. Prince of Montenegro Inc
dead King has two sisters living. Princess
Clotilde. born March 2. 1913. and Princess
Pia, born October 16. 1S47. There are also
living four nephews, children of the iate
Prince Amadeo of Savoy. Duke OF Aosta'
who are in line of succession. They are
Prince Emanueie Hitherto of Savoy, no"
Duke of Aostu: Prince Vttor:a Emailueie
Of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of Turin; Prince
Luig; Anadeo of Savoy-Aostn. Duke OF
Abruzzi; and Prince Umberto Maria "a
Savoy-Aosta. Count of Saleu.i
FIRST SPEECH AS KING
When King Humbert succeeded to the
throne, upon the death OF his father me
young monarch expressed himself IN the
following language: AT this moment there
IS but one consolation possible. nn1netS, 10
show ourselves worthy of him pE foi-
lowing in his footstep. you by remaining
devoted to those civic virtues by the AID OF
which he succeeded in accomplishing the
difficult task of rendering Italy great ana
united. I shall be mindful Of the grand
example he gave me OF devotion TO our
country, love of progress end faith in
liberal institutions, which are the pride
of my house. My sole ambition will be to
deserve the love of my people
The ceremonies attending the recession
of the new King were very imposing and
were accompanied by such manifestations
of popular feeling as to give assurance that
a grave crisis had been passed and the
Government was strong in the affections
OF the people.
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS
An attempt was made to murder King
Humbert few months after he came to
the throne, and a number OF times since
then his life had been threatened by the
assassin.
The reign of King Humbert. as a whole
was peaceful and prosperous. He was one
of the most popular monarchs in all Eu-
rope No great war has been fought since
his accession to the throne. the only con-
ficts being in Abyssinia and some other
small provinces. Several times. however
the nation has been on the verge OF war,
as in 1885, when France threatened to take
ND arms against Italy because OF the al
legged unjust taxation of foreigners Inc
period-nearly quarter OF a centurE-ot
his reign has been marked by great prog
ress in all lines of art and industry. all
of which was fostered by the King.
Among the notable liberal advancements
is the great forward step in the direction
of civil liberty
MANY Instances tending to show the
generosity and public spirit OF the King
are related. It is said that during the
financial panic of 1898 he devoted no less
than 4.o0O.o lire OF his own personal prop
erty to aid public men in paying their
debts. thus averting a great banking scan
dali
There has been much strife between the
King and the Pope during recent years,
and several times open hostiltttes We're
narrowly averted. The Pope has never
recognized the right of Humbert to the
throne, and the King on his part refused
to grant any Of the concessions demanded
Tho origin of the reigning house Of Italy
Is not clearly established by history, but
II fs traced by most genealogists to Count
Herthold. a German. who. In the eleventh
century. established himself on the west
ern slope of the Alps. between Mont Blanc
and Lake Leman. The countries OF Turin
ond S,1Sa were acquired in the end OF the
eleventh century by the Count of Savoy.
In 1852 Count Amadeus founded law OF
-rr,,a een,ture that greatly strengthened
the family. and led to the immediate ac-
,,,,is;tfon of the territory of Nice The title
~ duke was adopted by the Counts OF
savoy in 1916; in 74ls the principality OF
p;eannont was acquired by them. and in
171s they obtained the island of Sicily.
With the title of king. They were compelled
IN 100 to exchange the island of Sicily
for the island of Sardinia. to which the
ro,-a1 dignity henceforth remained attached
AZ the peace of 1915 Genoa and the sur
rounding territory were added to the Sar-
dinian crown
The direct male line of the house OF
SAVOY died out In 1881 with the death OF
King Carlo Felice and as the Salic law
nrohibits the accession of females. the
crown fell to Prince Carlo Alberto. OF the
house of Savoy-Carignano. a branch found
cd by Tommaso Francesca. born in 1896,
yc,,nger son of Duke Carlo Emanuel l.,
Of savoy King Carlo Alberto abdicated the
throne March 23d. 1S4S, in favor OF mis- son,
the late King vittorio Emanuele II On
November 10. 1859. by the peace of Zurich.
1cmbadv was obtained, with the exception
of NIantua and nart OF the surrounding
territory On March L. 1850. anneSa ton tn
SARDINIA was voted by plebiscitss IN Par
ma A1odena the Romaena. and Tuscany
Arnexa ton was also voted on Octaber e1
of the same year by Sicily and Naples. in
ch,dfne Renevento and Pontecorvo part of
the Papal States. and on November 4 by
,hrio