The Italian monarchy collapsed after a 34-day reign by Umberto II, the final sovereign of the House of Savoy. Born in 1904 at the Castle of Racconigi, he spent his early years under an authoritarian regime and a military education, ultimately inheriting a state fractured by the institutional crisis of World War II and the rise of fascism.
Military Service and Political Stance
Umberto II pursued a military career from an early age, ascending to the rank of Marshal of Italy. During the 1940 invasion of France, he commanded an army group. Despite his formal military stature, he distanced himself from Benito Mussolini. Following the defeats at Stalingrad and El Alamein, he tacitly supported the movement to remove the fascist leader from power.
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By 1944, Victor Emmanuel III faced intense pressure due to his ties to the fascist regime. Seeking to stabilize the monarchy, the king transferred his authority to Umberto, naming him Lieutenant General of the Realm. In May 1946, shortly before the constitutional referendum that would decide the fate of the monarchy, Victor Emmanuel abdicated. Umberto assumed the throne, only to be deposed on 12 June 1946 when the electorate voted to establish a republic.
Exile and Legacy
Following the abolition of the monarchy, Umberto II went into exile. Male members of the House of Savoy were barred from returning to Italy by law. He settled in Cascais, Portugal, and lived there for the remainder of his life before his death in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1983. His remains are interred at the Royal Abbey of Hautecombe.
Fast facts
- Born: 1904, Racconigi
- Died: 1983, Geneva
- Reign: 9 May 1946 – 12 June 1946
- Military Rank: Marshal of Italy
- Wife: Queen Marie-José
- Burial: Royal Abbey of Hautecombe
Questions readers ask
Why was he nicknamed the May King?
The nickname refers to the brevity of his reign, which lasted only 34 days.
Did he return to Italy after his deposition?
No, he and other male members of the House of Savoy were legally barred from returning to the country.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece — 1923
- Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
- Worked as military personnel, monarch and sovereign