Victor Emmanuel III | |||||
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Portrait in 1919
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King of Italy (more...) | |||||
Reign | 29 July 1900 – 9 May 1946 | ||||
Predecessor | Umberto I | ||||
Successor | Umberto II | ||||
Prime Ministers | See list | ||||
Emperor of Ethiopia | |||||
Reign | 9 May 1936 – 5 May 1941 | ||||
Predecessor | Haile Selassie I | ||||
Successor | Haile Selassie I | ||||
King of the Albanians | |||||
Reign | 16 April 1939 – 8 September 1943 |
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Predecessor | Zog I | ||||
Successor | Zog I (formally) | ||||
Prime Ministers | See list | ||||
Born |
Naples, Kingdom of Italy |
11 November 1869||||
Died | 28 December 1947 Alexandria, Kingdom of Egypt |
(aged 78)||||
Burial | Saint Catherine's Cathedral, Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
Consort | Elena of Montenegro | ||||
Issue | |||||
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House | Savoy | ||||
Father | Umberto I of Italy | ||||
Mother | Margherita of Savoy | ||||
Religion | None (atheist) | ||||
Signature |
Full name | |
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Vittorio Emanuele Ferdinando Maria Gennaro |
Styles of King Victor Emmanuel III |
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Reference style | His Majesty |
Spoken style | Your Majesty |
Alternative style | Sir |
Victor Emmanuel III (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele III, Albanian: Viktor Emanueli III; 11 November 1869 – 28 December 1947) was the King of Italy from 29 July 1900 until his abdication on 9 May 1946. In addition, he claimed the thrones of Ethiopia and Albania as Emperor of Ethiopia (1936–41) and King of the Albanians (1939–43), claims not recognised by all the great powers. During his long reign (nearly 46 years), which began after the assassination of his father Umberto I, the Kingdom of Italy became involved in two World Wars. His reign also encompassed the birth, rise, and fall of Italian Fascism.
Victor Emmanuel abdicated his throne in 1946 in favour of his son Umberto II, hoping to strengthen support for the monarchy against an ultimately successful referendum to abolish it. He then went in exile to Alexandria, Egypt, where he died and was buried the following year.
He was called by the Italians Il Re soldato (The Soldier King) for having led his country during both the world wars (and for Savoy's historical affinity with the battlefield, where the dynasty built much of its power), and, after Italy's victory in the First World War Il Re vittorioso (The Victorious King). He was also nicknamed Sciaboletta ("little saber") due to his height of 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in).
Victor Emmanuel was born in Naples, Italy. He was the only child of Umberto I, King of Italy, and his consort (his first cousin through descent from his grandfather Charles Albert of Sardinia), Princess Margherita of Savoy. Margherita was the daughter of the Duke of Genoa.