Umberto II of Italy

Umberto II, full name Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria di Savoia (15 September 190418 March 1983), was the last King of Italy. He reigned for 34 days, from 9 May 1946 to 12 June 1946, although he had been de facto head of state since 1944 and was nicknamed the May King ().

Umberto was the only son among the five children of King Victor Emmanuel III and Queen Elena. To repair the monarchy's image after the fall of Benito Mussolini's regime, Victor Emmanuel transferred his powers to Umberto in 1944 while retaining the title of king. As a referendum on the abolition of the monarchy was in preparation, Victor Emmanuel abdicated his throne in favour of Umberto in the hope that his exit might bolster the monarchy. However, the referendum passed, Italy was declared a republic, and Umberto lived out the rest of his life in exile in Cascais, on the Portuguese Riviera.

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles
 15 September 1904 – 29 September 1904: His Royal Highness Prince Umberto of Savoy
 29 September 1904 – 9 May 1946: His Royal Highness The Prince of Piedmont
 9 May 1946 – 12 June 1946: His Majesty The King of Italy
 12 June 1946 – 18 March 1983: His Majesty King Umberto II of Italy

Umberto was granted the traditional title of Prince of Piedmont at birth. This was formalised by Royal Decree on 29 September 1904.

Ancestry

References

Other reading


Other websites

 Genealogy of recent members of the House of Savoy
 a portrait of his
 Website with Information on Italian Royal news stories


|-

Category:1904 births
Category:1983 deaths
Category:Kings and Queens of Italy