Information about King Umberto II of Italy

King Umberto II of Italy (15 September 1904 - 18 March 1983)

Umberto II (Italian: Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria di Savoia), 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 (Italian: Re di Maggio).

Umberto was the only son of the five children of King Victor Emmanuel III and Queen Elena. In an effort 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 was in preparation on the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, Victor Emmanuel abdicated his throne in favour of Umberto in the hope 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.

King Umberto II of Italy reigned in...
Reigned asIn CountryFromToCoins Issued
King Umberto II Flag of Italy Italy 9 May 1946 12 June 1946
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