Umberto II of Italy

Umberto was a prince in Italy.

He was the only son in his family. He learned to be a soldier.

Umberto traveled to far lands. He visited many places in South America.

He also visited a place called Somaliland.

Later, a big war began. Umberto was a leader in the army. He did not like the war.

His father was the king. The father gave most of his power to Umberto.

Umberto became the king. He was king for only 34 days.

After that, Italy became a republic.

Umberto II was the last king of Italy.

He was born in 1904. He was the only son of King Victor Emmanuel III. Because of this, he was born to be king.

Umberto grew up in a strict home. He had to show great respect to his father. He even had to kiss his father's hand to speak. He studied to be a soldier. In 1924, he traveled to South America. He visited Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.

During World War II, Umberto was an army leader. He led troops during the invasion of France in 1940.

He did not like the war. He thought the alliance with Germany was dangerous.

In 1946, his father gave him the throne. Umberto became king, but only for 34 days. People voted in a big meeting called a referendum. They voted to end the monarchy. This made Italy a republic.

Umberto had to leave the country. He lived in exile until he died in 1983.

Umberto II was the very last king of Italy.

He was born on September 15, 1904, at the Castle of Racconigi. His father was King Victor Emmanuel III. His mother was Elena of Montenegro. Umberto was the third child in his family. He was also the only son among five children. Because he was a male, he was the heir to the throne from birth. This meant he was born to one day lead the country.

Umberto grew up in a very strict home. He lived in a house that focused on military rules. He had to show great respect to his father at all times. Even as an adult, he had to kneel to kiss his father's hand to speak. He also had to stand at attention when his father entered a room. His education was mostly about being a soldier. He did not study much about politics. This was a tradition for princes in his family. They expected to learn about politics only when they became leaders.

As a young prince, Umberto traveled to many places. In 1924, he went on a trip to South America. He visited Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.

This trip helped link Italian people living abroad to their home country. He also visited Italian Somaliland in 1928 and 1934. In 1930, he married Princess Marie José of Belgium.

They had four children together. During this time, the leader Benito Mussolini was also in power in Italy.

World War II was a very difficult time for Umberto. He was a leader in the Italian army. In 1940, he commanded troops during the invasion of France.

The invasion did not go as planned. Umberto later became a Marshal of Italy in 1942. He did not like the war or the alliance with Germany. He thought the choices made by the leaders were dangerous. After some big defeats, he began to support removing Mussolini from power.

In 1946, Italy went through a big change. His father, Victor Emmanuel III, gave his power to Umberto. Umberto became the king, but his reign was very short. It lasted only 34 days.

The people of Italy held a vote called a referendum. They voted to end the monarchy and start a republic instead. Umberto had to leave Italy and live in other countries. He lived in Cascais, Portugal, for many years. He died in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1983.

Umberto II was the final monarch of the Kingdom of Italy.

Born on September 15, 1904, at the Castle of Racconigi, he was the only son of King Victor Emmanuel III and Elena of Montenegro. Because the Italian throne was limited to male descendants, Umberto was the heir apparent from birth. He held the title Prince of Piedmont, which was formalized by Royal Decree on September 29, 1904. His life was defined by the transition of Italy from a monarchy to a republic.

Umberto grew up in a highly structured and militaristic household. He was raised to show extreme deference, or deep respect, to his father. Even as an adult, he was expected to kneel and kiss his father's hand before speaking. He also had to stand at attention whenever the King entered a room. His formal education focused on military training rather than politics. This followed a Savoyard tradition where heirs learned the art of politics only after inheriting the throne.

As the Prince of Piedmont, Umberto traveled to represent Italy abroad. In 1924, he visited several South American nations, including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.

This journey was part of a Fascist political plan to connect Italian immigrants with their home country. He also visited the colony of Italian Somaliland in 1928 and 1934. In 1930, he married Princess Marie José of Belgium.

The couple had four children: Maria Pia, Vittorio Emanuele, Maria Gabriella, and Maria Beatrice.

Umberto's military career became central during the era of Benito Mussolini. While Umberto held formal commands, his father jealously guarded the actual supreme command. In 1929, an attempted assassination occurred in Brussels while Umberto was announcing his betrothal. A man named Fernando de Rosa fired a shot that missed the Prince. De Rosa claimed to be a member of the Second International. Umberto later showed mercy by asking for a pardon for the man in 1932.

World War II brought significant challenges to Umberto's role and reputation. In 1940, he commanded Army Group West during the Italian invasion of France.

The offensive was largely a failure, as the Italian forces only penetrated a few kilometers into France. Although France signed an armistice shortly after, the military results were poor. In 1942, Umberto was promoted to Marshal of Italy. He privately worried that Italy's alliance with Nazi Germany was reckless and dangerous.

By 1944, the political situation in Italy was changing rapidly. Following Italian defeats at Stalingrad and El Alamein, Umberto began to support the removal of Mussolini. To repair the monarchy's image, King Victor Emmanuel III transferred most of his powers to Umberto. He named Umberto the Lieutenant General of the Realm, or *Luogotenente*. Eventually, the King abdicated his throne entirely to allow Umberto to lead. This was an attempt to strengthen the monarchy before the upcoming national vote.

In June 1946, Italy held an institutional referendum to decide its future.

Voters were asked if the country should remain a monarchy or become a republic. The results showed that the people voted to abolish the monarchy. As a result, Italy was declared a republic just days later. Umberto's reign ended after only 34 days, earning him the nickname "the May King."

After the referendum, Umberto II was forced to leave Italy. He and other male members of the House of Savoy were barred from returning to the country. He spent the remainder of his life in exile in Cascais, located on the Portuguese Riviera. He remained far from the political life of his former kingdom. Umberto II died in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1983.

His life marked the end of a long era for the Italian state.