Umberto II of Italy

King of Italy

15 September 1904 Racconigi, Kingdom of Italy

18 March 1983(1983-03-18) (78) Geneva, Switzerland

NamesItalian: Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria di Savoia

Final King of Italy (May–June 1946) Umberto IIUmberto in 1944King of Italy (more...) Reign9 May 1946 – 12 June 1946PredecessorVictor Emmanuel IIISuccessorMonarchy abolished Enrico De Nicola as PresidentPrime Minister Alcide De GasperiBorn(1904-09-15 ) 15 September 1904 Racconigi, Kingdom of ItalyDied18 March 1983(1983-03-18) (aged 78) Geneva, SwitzerlandBurialHautecombe Abbey, FranceSpouseMarie-José of Belgium ​ ​(m. 1930)​IssuePrincess Maria Pia Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples Princess Maria Gabriella Princess Maria BeatriceNamesItalian: Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria di SavoiaHouseSavoyFatherVictor Emmanuel III of ItalyMotherPrincess Elena of MontenegroReligionRoman CatholicismSignature Umberto II (Italian: Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria di Savoia; 15 September 1904 – 18 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 (Italian: Re di Maggio). Umberto was the only son among 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 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.