Category Archives: Italian Royals

Maria Teresa of Savoy, Countess of Artois

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Teresa of Savoy, Countess of Artois

Maria Teresa of Savoy was the wife of the future King Charles X of France, although she died before he took the throne. She was born on January 31, 1756, at the Royal Palace of Turin in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia, now in Italy. She was the daughter of the future King Vittorio Amadeo III of Sardinia and Infanta Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. She had eleven siblings:

The marriage of Maria Teresa of Savoy and the Count of Artois, 1773. source: Wikipedia

The marriage of Maria Teresa of Savoy and the Count of Artois, 1773. source: Wikipedia

On November 16, 1773, at the Chapel Royal at the Palace of Versailles, Maria Teresa married Charles Philippe, Count of Artois (the future King Charles X of France). He was the son of Louis, Dauphin of France, a son of King Louis XV of France and Marie Leszczyńska of Poland. Having taken the French version of her name – Marie Thérèse – she retained her style of Royal Highness because her husband was a grandson of the French sovereign. She was styled, however, simply the Countess of Artois. The couple had four children:

The marriage was just one of three marriages between the two families. Two years earlier, her elder sister had married Louis Stanislas, Count of Provence (the future Louis XVIII), and later her younger brother (the future King Carlo Emanuele IV of Sardinia) married Clotilde of France.

Marie Thérèse with her three surviving children, painted by Charles Leclercq, c1783. source: Wikipedia

Marie Thérèse with her three surviving children, painted by Charles Leclercq, c1783. source: Wikipedia

Regarded as very plain and unattractive, Marie Thérèse was overshadowed at the French court by her sister-in-law, Marie Antoinette, and was very unpopular. Her reputation improved a bit, however, when she began quickly to provide children and heirs – something her sister-in-law had so far been unable to do.

In July 1789, just days after the storming of the Bastille, Marie Thérèse and her family fled the country, settling for some time in her native Savoy. They eventually moved to Graz, Austria, where Marie Thérèse died on June 2, 1805. She is buried in the Imperial Mausoleum next to the Graz Cathedral.

Grave of Maria Teresa at the Imperial Mausoleum next to the Graz Cathedral; Credit – www. findagrave.com

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Giuseppina of Savoy, Countess of Provence

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

source: Wikipedia

Maria Giuseppina of Savoy, Countess of Provence; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Giuseppina Luigia of Savoy was the wife of King Louis XVIII of France, although he did not become King until after her death. She was born on September 2, 1753, at the Royal Palace of Turin, in Turin, Duchy of Savoy, now in Italy, daughter of King Vittorio Amadeo III of Sardinia and Infanta Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. She had eleven siblings:

On May 14, 1771, at the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France, Maria Giuseppina married Louis Stanislas of France, Count of Provence. He was the son of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of Saxony. She took on the French version of her name Maria Joséphine and was styled Countess of Provence. The couple had no children, although she did have several miscarriages.

From all accounts, there was little love in the marriage. It was the first of three marriages arranged between the royal families of Sardinia and France. Considered ugly and ill-mannered, Marie Joséphine never quite fit in at the Court of Versailles. She and her husband had a strained relationship with his brother and sister-in-law, the future King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and saw themselves as better suited to be next-in-line for the French throne.

After being forced to return to Paris in October 1789, Marie Joséphine and her husband took up residence at the Luxembourg Palace, still distancing themselves from the rest of the royal family who were living at the Tuileries Palace. They successfully escaped to the Austrian Netherlands in June 1791. By then, she and her husband fought constantly, and she found comfort in the company of her lady-in-waiting, Marguerite de Gourbillon. Many have speculated that the two were lovers, although there is no conclusive evidence of this.

In June 1795, Marie Joséphine’s husband became the titular King of France following the death of the only surviving son of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. However, as the French monarchy had been abolished years earlier, the two remained in exile as Count and Countess of Provence. They continued living in different parts of Europe before moving to England in 1808, taking up residence at Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, England.

Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, England. source: Wikipedia

Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, England. source: Wikipedia

On November 13, 1810, Marie Joséphine died at Hartwell House. Following a grand funeral, attended by the British Royal Family, she was interred in the Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The following year, her husband had her remains moved to the Cagliari Cathedral in Sardinia, now in Italy. Here, her brother, King Carlo Felice of Sardinia, had a large monument built in her honor.

Tomb of Marie Therese. photo by Giova81 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3880082

Tomb of  Marie Joséphine. photo by Giova81 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3880082

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Marie de’ Medici, Queen of France

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Marie de’ Medici, Queen of France – source: Wikipedia

Marie de’ Medici was the second wife and consort of King Henri IV of France. She was born on April 26, 1575, at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Italy, the sixth of seven children of Francesco I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Archduchess Joanna of Austria. Of her siblings, only one lived to adulthood:

The House of Medici came to prominence in the 15th century, as founders of the Medici Bank, the largest bank in Europe, and later as Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Along with Marie, other prominent family members included Catherine de’ Medici, consort to King Henri II of France, and Popes Leo X, Clement VII, and Leo XI.

When Marie was five years old, her mother died and seven years later her father died. Marie was raised by her uncle Ferdinando, who succeeded her father as Grand Duke of Tuscany, and ensured that his niece received a proper education. Marie showed great talent in the arts and science and became very devout in her religious beliefs.

After numerous suitors, Marie became engaged to King Henri IV of France (also King Henri III of Navarre). For Henri, marriage to Marie would help bring legitimate royal descent to France as Marie was descended from the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I. It would also bring significant financial benefits from the very wealthy de’ Medici family. For Marie, it would mean becoming Queen of both France and Navarre. The couple was married by proxy in Florence on October 5, 1600. Marie and Henri were married in person in a religious ceremony in Lyon, France on December 17, 1600.

They had six children:

Marie with her husband and family. source: Wikipedia

While the couple had a large family, the marriage was far from happy. Henri had numerous mistresses, with whom Marie was often feuding. Henri typically sided with his mistresses. Marie later fought back against her husband, showing support and sympathy for his first wife, Marguerite of Valois, who he had banished from France after their marriage was annulled. Marie’s support prompted Henri to allow Marguerite to return to the country.

The Coronation of Queen Marie, painted by Rubens. source: Wikipedia

Marie was formally crowned on May 13, 1610, at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France. The following day, her husband King Henri IV was assassinated and Queen Marie was appointed Regent for their eldest son, eight-year-old King Louis XIII. One of her first acts as Regent was to banish her late husband’s mistress from the French court. When Marie came to the French court from the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, she brought Leonora Dori Galigai, her long-time maid, who was appointed Marie’s lady-in-waiting and wardrobe attendant. Leonora married another Tuscan, Concino Concini, who also accompanied Marie to France. As Regent of France, Marie brought Concino Concini to the forefront of her court, and he became the Queen’s most trusted advisor.

Marie was influenced by Concini and her other Italian advisors, and many of her policies were in sharp contrast to those of her late husband. She promoted a strong alliance with the Spanish monarchy and favored Catholicism over Protestantism. To strengthen this bond, she arranged the marriages of her son, King Louis XIII, to Infanta Anna of Spain (known primarily as Anne of Austria), and her eldest daughter, Elisabeth, to the future King Felipe IV of Spain.

But Marie’s policies and plans did not meet with much support amongst the nobility and the princes of the blood who began to oppose her Regency. Unable to overcome the challenges to her position, Marie was forced into convoking the Estates-General in 1614. Along with Concini, Marie counted the Duke of Richelieu (later Cardinal) among her closest advisors. Richelieu had risen to power during the Estates-General and by 1616 had been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

By 1617, Marie’s policies had become greatly unpopular with the people of France. Her son – now three years into his majority – finally stepped in and asserted his position as King. He ordered that Concini be assassinated. Concini’s wife Leonora Dori Galigai, Marie’s long-time confidante, was accused of bewitching Marie and executed. Richelieu was dismissed from his position and exiled to Avignon. Queen Marie was also sent into exile at the Château de Blois in the Loire Valley.

Marie escaped two years later and began a movement to return to the French court. Marie’s younger son Gaston led a revolt that Gaston’s brother King Louis XIII quickly squashed. However, King Louis XIII knew that he needed to do something to appease his mother and her supporters. He brought Richelieu back to the French court to help mediate the situation with Marie. This led to the Treaty of Angoulême in August 1619, which formally ended the battles between the supporters of Marie and those of King Louis XIII. It also established a reconciliation between Marie and her son. By 1621, Marie again assumed her position on the Royal Council. But by 1630, her political machinations caused her to be banished from court again. Exiled to Compiègne, she escaped the following year and traveled to Brussels and later to Amsterdam where she received a grand royal welcome. After visiting her daughter, Henrietta Maria, in England in 1638, she traveled to Cologne, Germany.

Independently wealthy, Marie used her fortune to finance numerous projects in France. One of the most prominent was the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris. In 1612, Marie purchased what was then called the Hôtel de Luxembourg and its large grounds, and commissioned a much larger palace, modeled after the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, where she was born. Often referred to as Palais Médicis, the new Palais du Luxembourg became her primary residence during her regency. Today, it is the home of the French Senate. The original building became known as the Petit Luxembourg and now serves as the residence of the President of the French Senate. Marie commissioned famed painter Peter Paul Rubens to create a series of paintings that would adorn the new Palais du Luxembourg. These 24 paintings became known as the Marie de’ Medici Cycle, and now hang in The Louvre in Paris, France

Queen Marie, painted by Rubens, 1622. source: Wikipedia

Queen Marie died in the Free Imperial City of Cologne, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia; on July 3, 1642. Her heart is buried at Cologne Cathedral, but despite the strained relationship with her son, her other remains were returned to France and buried in the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Zita of Bourbon-Parma, Empress of Austria

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Zita of Bourbon-Parma, Empress of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma (Zita Maria delle Grazie Adelgonda Micaela Raffaela Gabriella Giuseppina Antonia Luisa Agnese) was born on May 9, 1892, at the Villa Pianore in Lucca, Tuscany (Italy). She was the daughter of the deposed Robert I, Duke of Parma and his second wife, Maria Antonia of Portugal, daughter of the deposed King Miguel I of Portugal and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg. Duke Robert I of Parma had a total of 24 children, 12 children with his first wife Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and 12 children with his second wife, Zita’s mother. Zita was the 17th of her father’s 24 children. Six of the children from Duke Robert’s first marriage were mentally disabled. Zita’s half-sister Marie Louise married King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. Zita’s full brother Felix married Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and the present Grand Ducal family descends from them. Another full brother René married Princess Margrethe of Denmark, daughter of Prince Valdemar of Denmark, youngest son of King Christian IX of Denmark. René and Margrethe’s daughter Anne married King Michael I of Romania. Four of Zita’s full sisters became nuns.

Zita had eleven siblings:

  • Maria della Neve Adelaide (1885 – 1959), a Benedictine nun at the Monastery of Solesmes, France
  • Sixtus (1886 – 1934), married Hedwige de La Rochefoucauld, had issue
  • Xavier, Duke of Parma (1889 – 1977), married Madeleine de Bourbon-Busset, had issue, the Carlist claimants to the Spanish throne descend through this line
  • Francesca (1890 – 1978), Benedictine nun at the Monastery of Solesmes, France
  • Felix (1893 – 1970), married Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, had issue
  • René (1894 – 1962), married Princess Margrethe of Denmark, had issue including Anne who married King Michael I of Romania
  • Maria Antonia (1895 – 1937), a Benedictine nun at the Monastery of Solesmes, France
  • Isabella (1898 – 1984), nun
  • Luigi (1899 – 1967), married Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy, had issue
  • Henrietta Anna (1903 – 1987), unmarried, was deaf
  • Gaetano (1905 – 1958), married and divorced Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis, had issue

From her father’s first marriage to Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Zita had twelve half-siblings. Six of the siblings were mentally disabled and two died in infancy. The twelfth child was stillborn and Maria Pia died in childbirth at the age of 33.

  • Marie Louise (1870 – 1899), married Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, had issue including Tsar Boris I of Bulgaria
  • Ferdinando (born and died 1871) died in infancy
  • Luisa Maria (1872 – 1943), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Enrico, Duke of Parma (1873 – 1939), unmarried, mentally disabled, Titular Duke of Parma 1907-1939, his brother Elias took up the role as regent and head of the family
  • Maria Immacolata (1874 – 1914), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Giuseppe, Duke of Parma (1875 – 1950), unmarried, mentally disabled, Titular Duke of Parma 1939-1950, his brother Elias continued the role as regent and head of the family
  • Maria Teresa (1876 – 1959), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Maria Pia (1877 – 1915), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Beatrice (1879 – 1946), married Pietro Lucchesi-Palli, had issue
  • Elias, Duke of Parma (1880- 1959), married Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria, had issue; Head of the Ducal Family of Parma (1950–1959)
  • Maria Anastasia (born and died 1881), died in infancy
  • Stillborn child (September 22, 1882), Maria Pia died in childbirth

The family of Robert I, Duke of Parma in 1906, From left to right, first row: Immaculata, Antonia, Isabella, Duke Robert, Henrietta, Luigi, Gaetano, Duchess Maria Antonia, Renato, Zita (sitting on the far right). From left to right, second row: Francesca, Pia, Luisa, Adelaide, Teresa, Joseph, Xavier, Henry, Sixtus, Felix; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Despite losing his throne due to the unification of Italy, Zita’s father Robert of Bourbon-Parma Robert was considerably wealthy, traveled in a private train, and owned castles at Schwarzau am Steinfeld near Vienna and Villa Pianore in northwest Italy, and the magnificent Château de Chambord in France. Zita grew up in a multi-language home. French was the main language spoken at home, but Italian and English were also spoken. Zita’s mother spoke Portuguese and German because her father was Portuguese and her mother was German. Zita’s German was perfected when she attended the school for aristocratic girls at the Salesian Sisters convent in Zangberg, Bavaria (now in Germany) from 1903 – 1908. The convent school followed the Bavaria Gymnasium curriculum, and Zita studied math, geography, history, natural history, and music. Zita then ended her formal education at Benedictine Abbey of St. Cecilia on the Isle of Wight in England where Zita’s grandmother Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg was the prioress. Here Zita studied theology and philosophy and perfected her English. She was also introduced to Gregorian chant and began playing the organ.

A young Zita;  Credit – Wikipedia

Zita’s maternal aunt Maria Teresa of Portugal had married a younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. Because of this, Zita and her future husband, then Archduke Karl of Austria, met as children. Karl was under pressure to marry and produce an heir because his uncle and the current heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, had married morganatically and children from that marriage were excluded from the succession. Zita and Karl married on October 21, 1911, at Schwarzau Castle in Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Austria. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and his heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand were among the prominent guests at the wedding.

Zita and Karl on their wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

Both Zita and Karl were devout Catholics and on the day after their wedding, Karl told Zita, “Now, we must help each other to get to Heaven.” Zita gave birth to eight children in less than 10 years. When Karl died in 1922, Zita was only 29 and pregnant with her eighth child. She never married again and wore black for the 67 years of her widowhood.

Zita, Karl, and their children in 1921; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo made Karl the heir to the Austrian throne. Emperor Franz Joseph was almost 84 years old, and Karl and Zita would become Emperor and Empress decades earlier than previously thought. The two were now under constant public attention. During the early days of World War I, Karl was often away with the army. For security reasons, Zita and her children stayed with Emperor Franz Joseph at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. During this time the Emperor expressed his deep pessimism about the future of the monarchy to Zita. Emperor Franz Joseph died on November 21, 1916, and 29-year-old Karl was now Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Croatia, and King of Bohemia.

Funeral Procession for Emperor Franz Joseph, in front: Zita and Karl with their oldest son Otto; Credit – Wikipedia

Austria was on the losing side of World War I. At the end of the war, the armistice required that the Austrian-Hungarian Empire allow for autonomy and self-determination of government by its various ethnic populations. The various areas of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire proclaimed independence and by October 1918 there was not much left of the empire. On November 11, 1918, the same day as the armistice ending World War I, Karl issued a proclamation in which he recognized the rights of the people of the empire to determine their form of government and released his government officials from their loyalty to him. Karl did not use the term “abdicate” in his proclamation and would never admit that he abdicated.

On March 23, 1919, Karl and his family left for Switzerland. On April 3, 1919, the Austrian Parliament passed the Habsburg Law that forbade Karl or his wife Zita from returning to Austria. The law also prevented other Habsburgs from returning to Austria unless they renounced all intentions of claiming the throne and accepted the condition of living as ordinary citizens. On the same day, all noble titles were abolished. In 1921, Karl returned to Hungary twice, attempting to regain the throne of Hungary. After the second attempt, the Council of Allied Powers decided to exile Karl and his family to the Portuguese island of Madeira.

In March of 1922, Karl caught a cold that developed into bronchitis and further developed into pneumonia. After suffering two heart attacks and respiratory failure, Karl died on April 1, 1922, at the age of 34. Due to the Habsburg Law, Karl could not be buried in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna. He was buried at the Church of Our Lady of Monte on the island of Madeira in Portugal. His heart was buried at the Muri Abbey, a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, near Basel, Switzerland. When Karl’s wife Zita died in 1989, she requested that her heart be buried with her husband’s. Two of their sons, Rudolf and Felix, are also buried at Muri Abbey. On October 3, 2004, Pope John Paul II beatified Karl and he is known as Blessed Karl of Austria. Beatification is the third of four steps toward sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church.

Austria_Germany_August_2012 178

Many churches in Austria have portraits of Blessed Karl of Austria. This altar dedicated to him is in the Augustinerkirche in Vienna, the parish church of the Austrian Imperial Family; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

The years following Karl’s death were difficult financially and Zita and her family moved often. They lived in Spain, Belgium, the United States (two of Zita’s sons served in the US Army during World War II), and Canada. In 1952, Zita moved back to Europe, living in Luxembourg and Switzerland. One of her daughters died in Austria in 1971 and Zita could not attend the funeral. The restrictions on the Habsburgs entering Austria had been rescinded, but only for those Habsburgs born after April 10, 1919. In 1982, the restrictions were eased and after 63 years Zita could return to Austria for visits. Zita had large family birthday celebrations for her 90th and 95th birthdays. Her health had been failing since her 90th birthday and the former Empress Zita died on March 14, 1989, at her home in Zizers, Switzerland at the age of 96.

Zita with eight of her children in 1962, Standing in the back from left to right: Archdukes Carl Ludwig, Rudolf, and Robert, In the middle: Archduchesses Adelheid, Elisabeth, and Charlotte with Archduke Felix, In the front Empress Zita and Archduke Otto; Credit – Wikipedia

The government of Austria allowed the funeral to take place in Austria provided that the Habsburg family paid the cost. The funeral mass was held at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. At least 200,000 people had filed past her coffin during the two days it lay in state at the cathedral. Zita’s casket was borne to the Capuchin Church, where the Imperial Crypt is located, by the same coach she had walked behind during the funeral of Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1916. Over 200 Habsburg and Bourbon-Parma family members and 8,000 other guests attended the funeral on April 1, 1989. Zita was buried in the Crypt Chapel of the Imperial Crypt. Her husband’s remains are still interred at the Church of Our Lady of Monte on the island of Madeira in Portugal but their hearts were buried together at the Habsburg Crypt in the Loretto Chapel at the Muri Abbey near Basel, Switzerland.

On December 10, 2009, Yves Le Saux, Bishop of Le Mans, France, opened the diocesan process for the beatification of Zita. Zita spent several months each year in the diocese of Le Mans at St. Cecilia’s Abbey, Solesmes, where three of her sisters were nuns.

Tomb of Empress Zita; on the right is the tomb of her son Karl Ludwig; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Austria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Umberto II of Italy

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Umberto II of Italy; Credit – Wikipedia

King Umberto II was the last monarch of Italy, reigning for just 34 days. He was born Prince Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria of Savoy just before midnight on September 15, 1904, at the Castle of Racconigi in Piedmont, Italy. Umberto was the third child, and the only son, of King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy and Princess Elena of Montenegro. He had four siblings:

Two weeks after his birth, Umberto was created Prince of Piedmont by Royal Decree. He was christened in the Pauline Chapel of the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy on November 4, 1904. Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King Edward VII of the United Kingdom were his godparents.

Umberto with his grandmother, Queen Mother Margherita, c1919. source: Wikipedia

Umberto was educated privately at home by several tutors and also received rigorous military training. He attended the Military Academy in Rome from 1918-1921, becoming a General in the Italian Army.

The engagement of Umberto and Princess Marie-José of Belgium was announced in Brussels, Belgium on October 24, 1929. She was the daughter of King Albert I of the Belgians and Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria. On the day of the engagement, Umberto was the target of an assassination attempt while placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Fortunately, the assailant missed and Umberto was not harmed.

Umberto and Marie-José during the marriage ceremony; Credit – Wikipedia

Umberto and Marie-José married on January 8, 1930, in the Pauline Chapel at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy. Following the service, they were received by Pope Pius XI, a sign of improved relations between Italy and the Holy See. After a honeymoon, they settled initially at the Royal Palace of Turin before moving to Naples the following year. The couple had four children:

Umberto continued with his career in the army while also representing the monarchy. He and his wife were often the official representatives at foreign royal events, the first being the marriage of his sister, Giovanna, to Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria in October 1930.

At the beginning of World War II, Umberto successfully led the Army Group West in the Italian invasion of France. Following France’s defeat, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini barred Umberto from active service, however, he did create him Marshal of Italy.

Umberto visiting troops during World War II in May 1944; Credit –  Wikipedia

In June 1944, King Vittorio Emanuele III transferred most of his powers to Umberto. That June, after Rome was liberated, he transferred his remaining powers to Umberto who was named Lieutenant General of the Realm. His father, however, remained King. Just two years later, with an upcoming referendum to decide on the continuation of the monarchy, King Vittorio Emanuele formally abdicated on May 9, 1946, hoping to help ensure a positive result in the vote. Umberto took the throne as King Umberto II. However, it was too late to do much good. The referendum was held on June 2, 1946, with the majority voting to become a Republic. Umberto had promised to accept and support the result and encouraged the Italian people to support the new government. On June 12, 1946, King Umberto II of Italy was formally deposed and left Italy. He settled in Cascais, Portugal, where he would live for the remainder of his life. However, his wife, Queen Marie-José, soon left and settled near Geneva. The couple led separate lives but remained married.

In exile for nearly 37 years, Umberto remained involved with the Italian people despite being banned from ever setting foot on Italian soil. He supported numerous causes and charities and was known for welcoming all who made the trip to Portugal hoping to speak with their former sovereign. An avid collector of military medals and memorabilia related to the House of Savoy, Umberto wrote a book on the medals of Savoy. He also traveled often and made many visits to his daughter Princess Maria Beatrice and her family in Mexico.

 

On March 18, 1983, King Umberto II died in a hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. Despite the nearly 37 years since he sat on the Italian throne, his funeral was attended by members of most of the reigning and non-reigning royal houses of Europe. Per his wishes, he was buried at the Hautecombe Abbey in Savoy, France, the traditional burial site of the House of Savoy. In his will, King Umberto bequeathed the famed Shroud of Turin, up until then owned by the House of Savoy, to the Holy See. Queen Marie-José was buried at his side following her death in 2001.

Tomb of King Umberto II and Queen Marie José, Hautecombe Abbey. photo: Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Italy Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2016

source: Wikipedia

Princess Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy

Elena of Montenegro was the wife of King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy, who reigned from 1900 until 1946. She was born on January 8, 1873, in Cetinje, Montenegro, the sixth of twelve children of King Nikola I of Montenegro and Milena Vukotić.

Elena had 11 siblings:

A shy and reserved child, Elena was brought up in Cetinje, Montenegro, and received a well-rounded education. She became fluent in several languages and developed a love of poetry and nature. She was also well-versed in politics. She later studied at the Smolny Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, and published several of her poems in a Russian literary magazine.

Elena with her husband and four oldest children in 1908, painted by Peter Lubarda; source: Wikipedia

Soon, a marriage was arranged with Vittorio Emanuele (then the Prince of Naples), the only son of King Umberto I of Italy and Princess Margherita of Savoy. The couple married on October 24, 1896, in Rome. A civil ceremony was held at the Quirinal Palace, followed by a religious ceremony at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs. Elena, raised in the Eastern Orthodox faith, converted to Catholicism before the marriage. This so distressed her mother that she refused to attend the wedding. Elena and Vittorio Emanuele had five children:

Elena and Vittorio Emanuele arriving at the Expo for the 50th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, 1911. source: Wikipedia

Elena quickly became a great support to her husband as well as a favorite of the Italian people, quickly setting her focus on helping those in need in her new country. After the 1908 Messina earthquake, she was photographed working with the rescuers. She served as First Inspector of the Voluntary Nurses for the Italian Red Cross from 1911-1921 and worked as a nurse during World War I. Along with her mother-in-law, she established hospitals at Quirinal Palace and Villa Margherita. Queen Elena is often credited with ‘inventing’ the signed photograph, which she had sold to raise funds for the war effort and medical care for the Italian forces.

Over the next fifty years, she would provide funding for numerous charitable institutions and hospitals to help the sick, injured soldiers, and impoverished mothers. Having studied medicine, she became a strong advocate for improved medical treatments and promoted better training for doctors, as well as research into fighting numerous diseases.

Queen Elena, 1933. source: Wikipedia

In the midst of World War II, her husband, having initially supported the Fascist movement, found himself lacking the confidence of the Italian people. Despite having transferred much of his power to their son in 1944, it became necessary for him to step down from the throne in an attempt to save the monarchy. King Vittorio Emanuele III abdicated on May 9, 1946, hoping that a new King – his son Umberto II – would bring support for continuing the monarchy in an upcoming referendum. However, his son would only reign for several weeks before Italy became a Republic in an overwhelming vote.

After the abdication, Vittorio Emanuele and Elena went into exile, settling in Alexandria, Egypt, at the invitation of King Farouk of Egypt. Vittorio Emanuele died in Alexandria in 1947, and in 1950, Elena moved to Montpellier, France, to undergo treatment for cancer. Living at the Metropole Hotel, Queen Elena died of a pulmonary embolism on November 28, 1952. She was buried in the Montpellier Municipal Cemetery.  In December 2017, her remains were quietly moved to the San Bernardo chapel in the Sanctuary of Vicoforte in Italy.

Tombs of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Elena of Montenegro; Credit – By Fabio Daziano – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64991612

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Italy Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy; Credit – Wikipedia

King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy reigned from 1900 until his abdication in 1946. Born in Naples, Italy on November 11, 1869, Prince Vittorio Emanuele Ferdinando Maria Gennaro of Savoy, styled Prince of Naples from birth, was the only child of King Umberto I of Italy and Princess Margherita of Savoy.

Vittorio Emanuele with his mother. source: Wikipedia

Following a private education at home, in which he excelled in languages, history, and geography, Vittorio Emanuele studied at the Nunziatella Military School in Naples and the Military Academy of Modena. He then served with the Italian forces in Naples, Como, and Florence. He was also an avid numismatist.

Vittorio Emanuele and Elena. source: Wikipedia

On October 24, 1896, Vittorio Emanuele married Princess Elena of Montenegro, the daughter of King Nicholas I of Montenegro and Milena Vukotić. A civil ceremony was held at the Quirinal Palace, followed by a religious ceremony at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs in Rome. The couple had five children:

While on a cruise in the Mediterranean with his wife, Vittorio Emanuele was notified of his father’s assassination on July 29, 1900. The new King and Queen quickly returned to Italy. Somewhat unprepared to ascend the throne as he was expecting his father to reign for many more years, the rather diminutive sovereign (standing at just over 5 feet tall) quickly made strides to become an effective, and well-respected, leader.

Vittorio Emanuele with King Albert I of the Belgians during World War I. source: Wikipedia

Initially remaining neutral at the onset of World War I, Italy soon entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente in 1915. During the war, the King was revered by the majority of the Italian people, and he spent much of the time visiting areas of Northern Italy impacted by the fighting and spending time with those suffering. His wife also worked tirelessly with the nurses in helping to care for the wounded.

Benito Mussolini. source: Wikipedia

Soon, however, the tides would turn. Italy was in the depths of depression following the war, which led to political instability. This led to the rise of the Fascist movement, led by Benito Mussolini. Already established as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, Mussolini led the March on Rome in October 1922, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Luigi Facta, and the establishment of a new Fascist government. The government wanted the King to declare martial law, but perhaps doubting that the Royal Army could overtake the uprising, the King refused. Facta resigned and the King made Mussolini Prime Minister. Soon, all sense of democracy was pushed aside and Mussolini had established himself as the dictator, with the King merely his puppet.

In 1936, Vittorio Emanuele became the titular Emperor of Ethiopia after Italian forces invaded the country and overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. Three years later, he also became King of the Albanians after King Zog I was overthrown by Italian forces. He would later renounce both of these titles and support the restoration of the rightful monarchs although King Zog would never return to Albania.

King Vittorio Emanuele III, c. 1936. source: Wikipedia

In June 1940, Italy entered World War II on the side of the Nazis, despite the King’s warnings that the country was unprepared for war. Numerous losses brought more dependence on the German Reich, and the King’s dwindling public support suffered even further. However, after the Allies landed in Sicily in July 1943, the tides would begin to turn again. Mussolini’s power had begun to fall apart, and his own Grand Council of Fascism asked the King to resume his full constitutional powers. He did, and his first act was ordering the arrest of Mussolini. The King also formally renounced his claims to the thrones of Ethiopia and Albania, in favor of those countries’ rightful sovereigns. Less than two months later, he signed an armistice with the Allies. Confusion ensued and the Germans were able to quickly overtake many of the Italian forces. The King fled to southern Italy to avoid the German advance on Rome, and German troops freed Mussolini, who soon established a new Fascist state in northern Italy.

Despite his return to power, Vittorio Emanuele recognized that his earlier support of the Fascist regime had left him with questionable support from the Italian people. Over several months in 1944, he transferred all of his royal powers to his son, the future King Umberto II, who was created Lieutenant General of the Realm. Vittorio Emanuele was King in name only.

Before long, a referendum was held to decide whether to retain the monarchy or become a republic. Hoping to save the monarchy, King Vittorio Emanuele III formally abdicated on May 9, 1946, in favor of his son. However, his hopes were not realized, and the Italian monarchy was formally abolished just weeks later. The royal family was sent into exile, and Vittorio Emanuele settled in Egypt, taking the title Count of Pollenzo. He died in Alexandria, Egypt on December 28, 1947, and was buried at Saint Catherine’s Cathedral in the same city.  In December 2017, the King’s remains were moved to the San Bernardo Chapel in the Sanctuary of Vicoforte in Italy, along with those of his wife.

Tombs of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Elena of Montenegro; Credit – By Fabio Daziano – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64991612

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Italy Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Margherita of Savoy, Queen of Italy

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Margherita of Savoy, Queen of Italy – source: Wikipedia

Queen Margherita of Italy was the wife of King Umberto I of Italy, who reigned from 1878 until his assassination in 1900. She was born Princess Margherita Maria Teresa Giovanna of Savoy just after midnight on November 20, 1851, at the Palazzo Chiablese, part of the Royal Palace of Turin. in Turin, then in the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, now in Italy. Margherita was the daughter of Prince Ferdinando of Savoy, Duke of Genoa, and Princess Elisabeth of Saxony. She had one younger brother:

Margherita’s father died when she was just four years old, and soon her mother married again to her chamberlain. Margherita’s uncle, King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy, enraged by this secret marriage before the official period of mourning was over, sent Margherita’s mother into exile, and for some time she was separated from her children.

Margherita was educated by a series of governesses and tutors, studying several languages, history, and literature, as well as significant studies in the arts and music. She was also raised in a very devout Catholic manner. She took weekly dance lessons, along with her cousin (and future brother-in-law), Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, the future King of Spain, and it has been suggested by several scholars that there were the beginnings of a romantic relationship. Several years later, the idea of marriage to her other cousin, the future King Umberto I, was suggested, but King Vittorio Emanuele wanted to arrange a marriage to an Austrian archduchess to strengthen ties between the two countries. Sadly, the proposed bride, Mathilde of Austria, died tragically when her dress caught fire. Shortly after, it was again suggested that Umberto should marry Margherita, and this time, the king agreed. Having already refused an offer of marriage from the future King Carol I of Romania, Margherita happily accepted Umberto’s proposal in January 1868.

The marriage of Umberto and Margherita, 1868. source: Wikipedia

The couple married on April 21, 1868, in a civil ceremony held at the Royal Palace of Turin, with a religious ceremony held in the Turin Cathedral the following day. Settling in Naples, they had one son:

Margherita with her son, Vittorio Emanuele, c1877. Source: Wikipedia

On January 9, 1878, Margherita became the first Queen of Italy when her husband ascended to the throne following his father’s death. Immensely popular with the Italian people, Queen Margherita was very active with many cultural organizations, promoting the arts, and working extensively with the Red Cross. She is credited with introducing chamber music in Italy and often helped up-and-coming musicians with their education. These included composer Giacomo Puccini, who was able to study at the Conservatory of Milan thanks to a scholarship granted to him by The Queen.

Always possessing an adventurous spirit, in 1893 she climbed the Punta Gnifetti for a ceremony in which a mountain hut, the Capanna Regina Margherita, was named in her honor. She later became President of the Ladies’ Alpine Club.

Margherita was widowed on July 29, 1900. While visiting the city of Monza, King Umberto I was shot and killed by an anarchist who was avenging the deaths in the Bava-Beccaris massacre. The throne passed to the couple’s son, Vittorio Emanuele III, and Margherita settled into her new role as Queen Mother. She devoted herself to her charity work and the advancement of the arts in Italy. She maintained her official residence at the Palazzo Margherita in Rome and also lived in the Stupinigi Hunting Lodge.

Queen Mother Margherita, 1908. source: Wikipedia

In 1914, Margherita purchased Villa Etelinda in Bordighera, Italy. Originally built as Villa Bischoffsheim in the 1870s, she had stayed there as a guest in 1879 to recover after the first assassination attempt on her husband. In 1896, it was purchased by Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (father of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) who renamed it Villa Etelinda. The villa was situated in a large park, which is where Margherita had a new house built, named Villa Margherita. For the remainder of her life, she spent several months at Villa Margherita each year, entertaining numerous artists and writers as well as members of her family.

Queen Margherita died at Villa Margherita in Bordighera, Italy on January 4, 1926. She is buried beside her husband in the Pantheon in Rome, Italy.

Tomb of Margherita and Umberto; Credit – By Paul Hermans – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12748068

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Italy Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Umberto I of Italy

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Umberto I of Italy; source: Wikipedia

King Umberto I of Italy (Umberto Ranieri Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio) was born March 14, 1844, in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia, now in Italy. the eldest son of the future King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy and Archduchess Adelheid of Austria. He had seven siblings:

Umberto with his mother, Queen Adelheid of Sardinia, c.1850. source: Wikipedia

Umberto was just five years old when his father became King of Sardinia, and he was then styled Prince of Piedmont. He was educated privately, with some of the most prominent statesmen and artists among his tutors. After turning 14, he began his military career with the Sardinian forces and participated in the Italian Wars of Independence. In 1861, Umberto became heir to the throne of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy.

Due to the infighting within the Italian states during the wars, many other royal houses did not look kindly upon the House of Savoy and were unwilling to establish any relations with them. The House of Savoy’s conflicts with the Pope did not help when it came time to find an appropriate royal Catholic bride for Umberto.

In 1867, in an attempt to ease the tense relations between Austria-Hungary and Italy, an engagement was arranged with Archduchess Mathilde of Austria. She was the daughter of Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen, and Princess Hildegard of Bavaria. However, before the marriage could take place, Mathilde died as a result of an accident. While smoking before going to the theater, she had tried to hide the cigarette from her father and caught her dress on fire, suffering severe burns. She died several days later.

Umberto and Margherita, the late 1890s. source: Wikipedia

On April 22, 1868, Umberto married his first cousin, Princess Margherita of Savoy (their fathers were brothers). She was the daughter of Prince Ferdinando of Savoy, Duke of Genoa, and Princess Elisabeth of Saxony. Umberto and Margherita had one son:

When his father died on January 9, 1878, Umberto became King of Italy. Unpopular with the Italian people, Umberto was soon the target of an assassination attempt. While touring the kingdom with his wife in November 1878, an anarchist, Giovanni Passannante, attacked him with a dagger. Umberto was unharmed, but the Prime Minister who was accompanying the royal couple was severely wounded. A second assassination attempt would take place in April 1897, when Pietro Acciarito, an unemployed ironsmith, unsuccessfully attempted to stab Umberto.

In May 1898, workers organized a strike in Milan to protest against rising food costs in Italy. Wheat harvest in Italy had greatly diminished, and the cost of importing grain from America had risen due to the Spanish-American War. Despite attempts by the government to maintain the price by lowering the tariffs, it was too late and not enough. What began as a somewhat peaceful strike soon turned violent. In an attempt to control the crowds, the son of the Milan mayor was shot and killed. Soon, more workers were striking, and riots broke out. The government brought in General Fiorenzo Bava-Beccaris, one of the leaders in the Italian Wars of Independence, to restore order. All came to a head on May 7, when Bava-Beccaris ordered his troops to fire on the demonstrators. Nearly 100 people were killed and several hundred were wounded. A month later, King Umberto awarded the General with the Great Cross of the Order of Savoy, which brought further uproar among the Italian people. It would lead to a tragic end for the King.

The assassination of King Umberto I. source: Wikipedia

On July 29, 1900, while in the city of Monza, King Umberto I was shot four times and killed, by Gaetano Bresci, an anarchist who claimed he was avenging the deaths that occurred in the Bava-Beccaris massacre, and the insult of rewarding General Fiorenzo Bava-Beccarisfor his actions. King Umberto I was buried in the Pantheon in Rome. His son King Vittorio Emanuele III had a chapel monument, the Expiatory Chapel of Monza, built on King Umberto I’s assassination site.

Tomb of King Umberto I at the Pantheon. source: Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Italy Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Adelheid of Austria, Queen of Sardinia

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Adelheid of Austria, Queen of Sardinia – source: Wikipedia

Archduchess Adelheid of Austria, Queen of Sardinia

Archduchess Adelheid of Austria was the first wife of King Vittorio Emanuele II of Sardinia (the future King of Italy). She was born Adelheid Franziska Marie Rainera Elisabeth Clotilde on June 3, 1822, at the Royal Palace of Milan, the daughter of Archduke Rainer Joseph of Austria and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy.  Adelheid’s father was the Viceroy of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, a constituent land of the Austrian Empire.

Adelheid had seven siblings:

  • Archduchess Maria Karolina (1821 – 1844) – unmarried
  • Archduke Leopold Ludwig (1823 – 1898) – unmarried
  • Archduke Ernst Karl (1824 – 1899) – married morganatically Laura Skublics de Velike et Bessenyö, had issue
  • Archduke Sigismund (1826 – 1891) – unmarried, no issue
  • Archduke Rainer (1827 – 1913) – married Archduchess Maria Karoline of Austria, no issue
  • Archduke Heinrich (1828 – 1891) – married morganatically to Leopoldine Hoffman, had issue
  • Archduke Maximilian (1830 – 1839) – died as a child

Adelheid and Vittorio with their six oldest children, c1854. source: Wikipedia

On April 12, 1842, at the Palazzina di caccia di Stupinigi in Italy, she married Vittorio Emanuele, the son of King Carlo Alberto I of Sardinia and Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria. The two were first cousins (her mother and his father were siblings), and also first cousins once removed through their mutual descent from Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. At the time of their marriage, Vittorio Emanuele was heir to the Sardinian throne and held the title Duke of Savoy. The couple had eight children:

Adelheid with her son, Umberto, c1850. Source: Wikipedia

Adelheid became Queen of Sardinia on March 23, 1849, following her father-in-law’s abdication and her husband’s accession to the throne. However, she never lived to become the Queen of Italy. Just days after giving birth to her last child, Adelheid fell ill after attending the funeral of her mother-in-law in Turin. Adelheid herself died four days later, on January 20, 1855, at the Royal Palace of Turin in the Kingdom of Sardinia, now in Italy. She was interred at the Royal Basilica of Superga in Turin.

The Royal Basilica of Superga. Source: Wikipedia, photo by Rolopack

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Italy Resources at Unofficial Royalty