Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este, Empress of Austria

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este, Empress of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Ludovika was the third of the four wives of Franz I, Emperor of Austria. On December 14, 1787, Archduchess Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este, Princess of Modena, was born at the Royal Villa of Monza, built between 1777 and 1780, when Lombardy (now in Italy) was part of the Austrian Empire. She was the youngest of the ten children of Archduke Ferdinand Karl of Austria-Este and Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d’Este. Maria Ludovika’s father was the fourth son and fourteenth child of Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria, and (in her own right) Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, and Franz Stefan, Duke of Lorraine, Holy Roman Emperor.  Maria Theresa had arranged a treaty whereby her son Ferdinand would marry the only child of Ercole III d’Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, become his heir, and form the House of Austria-Este, a cadet branch of the House of Habsburg and the House of Este.

Maria Ludovika’s parents, Ferdinand and Maria Beatrice; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Ludovika had nine siblings:

Maria Ludovika’s education was overseen by her strict grandmother Maria Theresa, who had arranged her parents’ marriage. She spent her early years at her birthplace, the beautiful Royal Villa of Monza in Milan, modeled after her father’s birthplace, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. In 1796, when Maria Ludovika was nine years old, Napoleon‘s invasion of Milan forced the family to flee the French forces. The family fled to Trieste and then to Wiener Neustadt, a city just south of Vienna. Finally, the family settled in the Palais Dietrichstein in Minoritenplatz in Vienna. This experience gave Maria Ludovika a lifelong hatred of Napoleon. Maria Ludovika’s father died in Vienna in 1806, but after Napoleon’s final defeat, the Congress of Vienna recognized her eldest brother Ferdinand as Duke of Modena.

In 1807, Maria Ludovika’s first cousin, Franz I, Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia became a widower for the second time when his second wife Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily (his double first cousin, also a first cousin of Maria Ludovika) died after childbirth along with her 12th child. The 39-year-old Emperor consoled his grief with visits to his aunt (by marriage), Maria Beatrice Ricciarda, and fell in love with the beautiful and literate Maria Ludovika, who was 19 years old. Maria Ludovika and Franz were married on January 6, 1808, in a ceremony conducted by the bride’s brother Karl, Archbishop of Esztergom, Primate of Hungary. The marriage was childless.

Franz’s father, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II, and Maria Ludovika’s father were brothers. Franz became Holy Roman Emperor at age 24 in 1792 after the two-year reign of his father. Holy Roman Emperor Franz II feared that Napoleon could take over his personal lands within the Holy Roman Empire, so in 1804 he proclaimed himself Emperor Franz I of Austria. Two years later, after Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved. The lands held by the Holy Roman Emperor were given to Napoleon’s allies, creating the Kingdom of Bavaria, the Kingdom of Württemberg, and the Grand Duchy of Baden.

The French had protested Franz’s marriage to Maria Ludovika, and there were fears in Vienna that the new Empress’ hatred of Napoleon could cause Austria to go back to war. In 1809, Austria did attack France again, hoping to gain an advantage over Napoleon because of France’s involvement in the Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal. Austria was again defeated, and this time, Franz was forced to ally himself with Napoleon. He had to cede territory to the French Empire, join the Continental System, and marry his eldest daughter, Marie-Louise, to Napoleon, who had divorced his first wife Joséphine because she had failed to produce an heir. Maria Ludovika, who was only four years older than her stepdaughter, was vehemently against the marriage. After Napoleon’s final defeat, Franz and Maria Ludovika hosted the Congress of Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815. The objective of the Congress was to provide a long-term peace plan for Europe by settling critical issues arising from the Napoleonic Wars.

Maria Ludovika, Empress of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

During the years of the Napoleonic conflicts, Maria Ludovika was ill with tuberculosis. After the Congress of Vienna, she visited her former home in Modena, now liberated, and other Italian cities with her husband. Maria Ludovika was now very ill and weak and told her mother that she wanted to die. In March 1816, she was in Verona, and too ill to continue her travels. Her physician, who was traveling with her, called in numerous famous doctors, but to no avail. On April 7, 1816, 28-year-old Maria Ludovika died at the Palazzo Canossa in Verona, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, now in Italy, with her husband at her bedside. Maria Ludovika was buried at the Capuchin Church in the Imperial Crypt in the Franzensgruft (Franz’s Vault) in Vienna, Austria, where her husband and his three other wives are also buried.

Tomb of Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este; Credit – Wikipedia

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Franz I, Emperor of Austria, Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2016

Franz I, Emperor of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

One day in February 1768, Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia in her own right, rushed into the court theater at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna shouting, “Our Leopold has a boy!”, announcing the birth of her grandson, the future Franz II, Holy Roman Emperor who would later be Franz I, Emperor of Austria.

Maria Theresa had been the only surviving child of her father Holy Roman Emperor Karl VI. Throughout his reign, Charles expected to have a male heir and never really prepared Maria Theresa for her future role as sovereign.  When her father died in 1740, Maria Theresa became Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia in her own right.  She was unable to become the sovereign of the Holy Roman Empire because she was female. Maria Theresa’s right to succeed her father was the cause of the eight-year-long War of the Austrian Succession.

The Habsburgs had been elected Holy Roman Emperors since 1438, but in 1742 Holy Roman Emperor Karl VII from the German House of Wittelsbach was elected. He died in 1745 and via a treaty, Maria Theresa arranged for her husband Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorraine to be elected Holy Roman Emperor.  Despite the snub, Maria Theresa wielded the real power. Upon the death of her husband, Maria Theresa’s eldest son Joseph was elected Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, but Maria Theresa continued to wield the real power. Joseph had married twice, but both wives died of smallpox. His first marriage had produced two daughters, one died at age seven and the other died shortly after birth. Maria Theresa’s Leopold was her second surviving son, and therefore the heir and the birth of his son ensured the succession of the throne.

The Holy Roman Empire was a limited elective monarchy composed of hundreds of kingdoms, principalities, duchies, counties, prince-bishoprics, and Free Imperial Cities in central Europe. The Holy Roman Empire was not really holy since, after Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1530, no emperors were crowned by the pope or a bishop. It was not Roman but rather German because it was mainly in the regions of present-day Germany and Austria. It was an empire in name only – the territories it covered were mostly independent each with its own ruler. The Holy Roman Emperor directly ruled over only his family territories, and could not issue decrees and rule autonomously over the Holy Roman Empire. A Holy Roman Emperor was only as strong as his army and alliances, including marriage alliances, made him. His power was severely restricted by the many sovereigns of the constituent monarchies of the Holy Roman Empire. From the 13th century, prince-electors, or electors for short, elected the Holy Roman Emperor from among the sovereigns of the constituent states.

Frequently but not always, it was common practice to elect the deceased Holy Roman Emperor’s heir. The Holy Roman Empire was an elective monarchy. No person had a legal right to the succession simply because he was related to the current Holy Roman Emperor. However, the Holy Roman Emperor could and often did, while still alive, have a relative (usually a son) elected to succeed him after his death. This elected heir apparent used the title King of the Romans.

Learn more at Unofficial Royalty: What was the Holy Roman Empire?

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Franz’s grandmother Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia; Credit – Wikipedia

Franz Joseph Karl was born on February 12, 1768, in Florence, the capital of Tuscany, now in Italy, where his father reigned as Grand Duke from 1765–90. Franz was the eldest son and the second of the sixteen children of Pietro Leopoldo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany (later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor) and Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain, the daughter of King Carlos III of Spain. Franz’s paternal grandparents were the formidable and powerful Empress Maria Theresa, who was in her own right Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary, Queen of Croatia, and Queen of Bohemia, and Francis Stephen, Holy Roman Emperor, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Duke of Lorraine. Even though her husband was the nominal Holy Roman Emperor, Maria Theresa wielded the real power.  Franz’s maternal grandparents were Carlos III, King of Spain and Maria Amalia of Saxony.

Franz at the age of 2, 1770, by Anton Raphael Mengs; Credit – Wikipedia

Franz had fifteen siblings:

Franz with his parents and siblings, circa 1784-1785; Credit – Wikipedia

Franz had a happy childhood surrounded by his numerous siblings in Florence. His father Leopold was active in his children’s upbringing and encouraged freedom and self-expression. His children were encouraged to run about freely and participate in energetic play. Archduchess Maria Christina, the children’s paternal aunt, recalled with delight being rolled on the floor with her nieces and nephews. The children’s education was a hands-on one. The British ambassador Sir Horace Mann was impressed with Franz’s education: “He played at Geography by the dissected maps that I was desired to get from England, and on all his walks and rides he is accompanied by people who amuse him and instruct him. He has learned the principal modern languages as the natives do, having attendants of different nations who always speak their own language to him, by which means, they are familiar to him.” This pleasant life ended for Franz in 1784 when he was 16 years old. His uncle, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, summoned him to the imperial court in Vienna to be prepared as a future emperor.

Soon after he arrived in Vienna, Franz received a memo from his uncle listing his deficiencies: “physical development has been completely neglected,” “stunted in growth,” “very backward in bodily dexterity,” “a spoiled mother’s boy.” Joseph told Franz that if he did not improve methods involving “fear and unpleasantness” would be used. Franz learned to control his feelings and the expression of his opinions based on his uncle’s demands. He was sent to join a military regiment in Hungary to complete his education.

Elisabeth of Württemberg, Archduchess of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

A bride was chosen for Franz by the Emperor. Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg, daughter of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike of Brandenburg-Schwedt, was chosen for political reasons and sent to Vienna in 1762 when she was 15-years old. Brought up as a Lutheran, Elisabeth was educated at the Monastery of the Salesian Sisters in Vienna, where she converted to Roman Catholicism. Franz and Elisabeth were married on January 6, 1788. On February 18, 1790, Elisabeth gave birth to a premature daughter Archduchess Ludovika Elisabeth of Austria, and then she died early on the morning of February 19, 1790, at the age of 22. The next day, on February 20, 1790, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II died at the age of 49. The infant Archduchess did not survive long, dying on June 24, 1791. Within a week of his 22nd birthday, Franz became a widower and the heir to the throne, which now passed to his father, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. Franz’s father’s reign was only two years and at age 24, he became Franz II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily; Credit – Wikipedia

Franz married again, a little more than six months after the death of his first wife. On September 15, 1790, Franz married Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily, the eldest daughter of King Ferdinand IV and III of Naples and Sicily (later King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies) and Archduchess Marie Caroline of Austria. Franz and Maria Theresa were double first cousins, which meant they had the same two sets of grandparents. The couple had twelve children but only seven survived childhood. While pregnant with her twelfth child, Maria Theresa fell ill with the lung infection pleurisy. Her doctor bled her and this caused premature labor. Maria Theresa gave birth to her twelfth child who lived only three days. On April 13, 1807, a week after giving birth, Maria Theresa died at the age of 34. Franz was inconsolable and had to be forcibly removed from his wife’s body.

Franz and Maria Theresa’s children:

Franz, Maria Theresa, and their children; Credit – Wikipedia

Austria took part in the French Revolutionary Wars, lasting from 1792 until 1802, resulting from the French Revolution, which saw the rise of an unknown French general named Napoleon Bonaparte. During the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, Holy Roman Emperor Franz II feared that Napoleon could take over the personal, hereditary Habsburg lands within the Holy Roman Empire, so in 1804 he proclaimed himself Emperor Franz I of Austria. After Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, in 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved. The lands of the Holy Roman Empire were given to Napoleon’s allies, creating the Kingdom of Bavaria, the Kingdom of Württemberg, and the Grand Duchy of Baden. In 1809, Franz attacked France again but was again defeated. This time, Franz was forced to ally himself with Napoleon, ceding territory to the French Empire, and marrying his daughter Marie-Louise to Emperor Napoleon. In 1813, for the final time, Austria turned against France and joined Great Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Sweden in their war against Napoleon. Austria played a major role in the final defeat of France, and Emperor Franz I of Austria, represented by Clemens von Metternich, presided over the Congress of Vienna held in Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815. The objective of the Congress was to provide a long-term peace plan for Europe by settling critical issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

Napoleon meets Franz following the Battle of Austerlitz; Credit – Wikipedia

Franz married two more times. On January 6, 1808, he married another first cousin, Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este, the daughter of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este and Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d’Este. Maria Ludovika was a great enemy of Napoleon and protested the marriage of her stepdaughter Marie-Louise to Napoleon. Franz and Maria Ludovika had no children, and Maria Ludovika died on April 7, 1816, of tuberculosis at the age of 28.

Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este; Credit – Wikipedia

Franz’s fourth and last wife was Princess Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, daughter of Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria and Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. The couple married on October 29, 1816, but had no children.

Caroline Augusta of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

On March 2, 1835, the day after the 43rd anniversary of his father’s death, Franz died suddenly of a fever at the age of 67. For three days, the people of Vienna filed past his coffin. His coffin was then brought in the traditional procession to the Capuchin Church (German: Kapuzinerkirche) in Vienna, Austria, where the Imperial Crypt (German: Kaisergruft), the traditional burial place of the Habsburgs, lies underneath the rather plain church. Franz’s remains lie in the Franzensgruft (Franz’s Vault) surrounded by the tombs of his four wives.

Tomb of Holy Roman Emperor Franz II/Emperor Franz I of Austria; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

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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

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Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2016

Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy – source: Wikipedia

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, developed a love of poetry and nature, and was well-versed in politics. Elena studied at the Smolny Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, and published several poems in a Russian literary magazine.

Elena with her husband and four oldest children in 1908; 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. Elena’s conversion greatly distressed her mother and 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 and a favorite of the Italian people. She focused on helping those in need in her new country. After the 1908 Messina earthquake, Elena was photographed working with the rescuers. She served as the 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 and 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

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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

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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

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Italy Resources at Unofficial Royalty

April 1916: Royalty and World War I

by Susan Flantzer

Michael Hugh Hicks-Beach, Viscount Quenington

Viscount Quenington

Michael Hicks-Beach, Viscount Quenington; Photo Credit – http://www.illustratedfirstworldwar.com

Michael Hugh Hicks-Beach was born on January 19, 1877 at 40 Portman Square in London, England. He was the only son and the second of the four children of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, a Member of Parliament and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and his second wife, Lady Lucy Catherine Fortescue, daughter of Hugh Fortescue, 3rd Earl Fortescue. Michael had one elder sister and two younger sisters.

  • Lady Eleanor Hicks-Beach (1875 – 1960), married Lt.-Col. Sir John Keane, 5th Baronet; had issue
  • Lady Susan Hicks-Beach (1878 – 1965), unmarried
  • Lady Victoria Hicks-Beach (1879 – 1963), unmarried

Michael was educated at Eton College and then attended Christ Church College at the University of Oxford.  He served as a Captain in the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment at St Helena during the Second Boer War.  From 1906 until his death, Michael was a Conservative Member of Parliament from Tewkesbury and was a board member of Lloyds Bank. In 1915, when his father was created 1st Earl St Aldwyn, Michael then held the courtesy title Viscount Quenington, one of his father’s subsidiary titles.

On September 28, 1909, Michael married Marjorie Dent-Brocklehurst of Sudeley Castle, the castle where Catherine Parr, the widow of King Henry VIII, lived the last years of her life. The couple had two children:

  • Lady Delia Mary Hicks-Beach (1910 – 2006), married Brigadier Sir Michael Dillwyn-Venables-Llewelyn, 3rd Baronet; had issue
  • Michael John Hicks-Beach, 2nd Earl St Aldwyn (1912 – 1992), married Diana Mary Christian Mills, had issue including Michael Henry Hicks-Beach, 3rd Earl St. Aldwyn

At the start of World War I, Michael joined the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars as a 2nd Lieutenant and served during the Gallipoli Campaign.  After evacuation from Gallipoli, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars went to Egypt where took part in many of the battles that formed the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, and Michael served with them as a Lieutenant and an Adjutant.

Michael’s wife Marjorie (Viscountess Quenington) went to Egypt to serve in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), a voluntary organization providing field nursing services, and died from typhus in Cairo, Egypt on March 15, 1916.

About seven weeks later, on April 23, 1916, Michael died of wounds received when serving as Adjutant during the Battle of Katia, 40 miles from the Suez Canal, near Katia, Egypt. He and his wife were buried side by side at the Cairo New British Protestant Cemetery.

Cairo New British Protestant Cemetery; Photo Credit – www.findagrave.com

On April 30, 1916, just a week after Michael’s death, his father Michael Edward Hicks-Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn died, and his three year old grandson succeeded him as the 2nd Earl St Aldwyn. A joint memorial was held for Michael Edward Hicks-Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn and Michael Hugh Hicks-Beach, Viscount Quenington on May 4, 1916 at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, London.

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Timeline: April 1, 1916 – April 30, 1916

  • April 23 – Battle of Katia in Ogratina, Katia and Duidar east of the Suez Canal and north of El Ferdan Station in present-day Egypt
  • April 27 – 29 – German gas attack on British troops at Hulluch, France
  • April 29 – British forces under siege at Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) surrender to the Ottomans, first Siege of Kut ends

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A Note About German Titles

Many German royals and nobles died in World War I. The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent states, most of them ruled by royal families. Scroll down to German Empire here to see what constituent states made up the German Empire.  The constituent states retained their own governments, but had limited sovereignty. Some had their own armies, but the military forces of the smaller ones were put under Prussian control. In wartime, armies of all the constituent states would be controlled by the Prussian Army and the combined forces were known as the Imperial German Army.  German titles may be used in Royals Who Died In Action below. Refer to Unofficial Royalty: Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles.

24 British peers were also killed in World War I and they will be included in the list of those who died in action. In addition, more than 100 sons of peers also lost their lives, and those that can be verified will also be included.

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April 1916 – Royals/Nobles/Peers/Sons of Peers Who Died In Action

The list is in chronological order and does contain some who would be considered noble instead of royal. The links in the last bullet for each person is that person’s genealogical information from Leo’s Genealogics Website or to The Peerage website.  If a person has a Wikipedia page, their name will be linked to that page.

Captain and Brevet Major The Honorable Josceline Foljambe

 

Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho

Michael Hicks-Beach, Viscount Quenington and Member of Parliament

Georg, Freiherr von Saalfeld

Adelheid of Austria, Queen of Sardinia

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Adelheid of Austria, Queen of Sardinia – source: Wikipedia

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, 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 – 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

King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy; source: Wikipedia

King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy reigned from 1861 until 1878. He was born Prince Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso of Savoy on March 14, 1820, in Turin, the eldest son of Carlo Alberto, 7th Prince of Carignano, the future King of Sardinia, and Maria Theresa of Austria, Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Tuscany. He had two younger siblings:

In 1831,  Vittorio Emanuele’s father succeeded a distant cousin, becoming King of Sardinia. Vittorio Emanuele accompanied his father to Turin, where he underwent a very strict regimen of education and physical activities. Soon, he began his military career, attaining the rank of Colonel and commanding his own regiment. He later was elevated to the rank of General.

Vittorio Emanuele and his family, c1854. source: Wikipedia

On April 12, 1842, at the Palazzina de caccia di Stupinigi, Vittorio was married to Archduchess Adelheid of Austria. She was the daughter of Archduke Rainer Joseph of Austria and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy. Vittorio and Adelheid were first cousins, as his father and her mother were siblings. They were also first cousins once removed through their mutual descent from Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. Adelheid died on January 20, 1855, just twelve days after giving birth to their youngest child.

The couple had eight children:

In 1847,  27-year-old Vittorio Emanuele met 14-year-old Rose Vercellana when her father became the commander of the royal garrison at the Royal Castle of Racconigi, the hunting estate of the royal family of Sardinia. She soon became his mistress. At that time, Vittorio Emanuele had been married to his wife Adelheid of Austria for seven years and five of their eight children had been born.

Vittorio Emanuele’s many other relationships were brief, but his relationship with Rosa lasted the rest of his life. Their early meetings were very secret because Vittorio Emanuele’s father Carlo Alberto, King of Sardinia was against the affair and because it was illegal to have sex with minors. Eventually, Rosa was given a home on the grounds of the Palazzina di caccia of Stupinigi (the hunting residence of Stupinigi), closer to Turin, the seat of government.

Rosa and Vittorio Emanuele had a daughter and a son, born when Rosa was fifteen and eighteen:

  • Vittoria Guerrieri (1848 – 1905), married (1) Giacomo Filippo Spinola, had three children (2) Luigi Domenico Spinola, brother of her first husband, had one daughter (3) Paolo de Simone, no children
  • Emanuele Alberto Guerrieri, Count of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda (1851 – 1894), married Bianca Enrichetta de Lardere, had two sons

Rosa and Vittorio Emanuele with their two children in the 1860s Credit – Wikipedia

Following a massive defeat by the Austrian forces, Vittorio Emanuele’s father abdicated on March 23, 1849, and he succeeded his father as King Vittorio Emanuele II of Sardinia. He was a driving force behind the “Risorgimento”, the Italian unification movement.

Over the next twelve years, Vittorio Emanuele II led the drive toward a unified kingdom. Under the leadership of Giuseppe Garibaldi, a noted general and politician, the Sardinian forces soon gained Sicily and Naples. He then led his forces against the Papal army, driving the Pope into Vatican City. This resulted in the Pope excommunicating Vittorio Emanuele from the Roman Catholic church. Garibaldi soon conquered the Kingdom of Two Sicilies but was stopped from attacking Rome as it was under protection from the French. With all the newly acquired lands, on March 17, 1861, Vittorio Emanuele was proclaimed the first King of the new, united Kingdom of Italy.

After the death of Vittorio Emanuele’s wife Adelheid in 1855, his relationship with Rosa Vercellana continued, despite his numerous other lovers, and became more public. Although the relationship caused much scandal and hostility at court, Vittorio Emanuele did not yield to any pressure. In 1858, Vittorio created Rosa Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda, recognized their two children, and gave them the surname Guerrieri. A year later, Vittorio Emanuele purchased the Castle of Sommariva Perno (link in Italian) for Rosa. Although the Italian nobles despised Rosa, she was loved by the common people for her peasant origins.

When Vittorio Emanuele fell seriously ill in 1869 and feared he was dying, he married Rosa in a religious ceremony on October 18, 1869. However, Vittorio Emanuele did not die. The marriage was morganatic, a marriage between people of unequal social rank in which the position or privileges of the higher-ranked spouse are not passed on to the other spouse or any children. Rosa’s children had no succession rights and she did not become Queen of Italy, instead, she retained her titles Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda, which the Vittorio Emanuele had given her in 1858. So that Rosa would have marriage civil rights, a civil marriage was held on October 7, 1877, just three months before Vittorio Emanuele’s death.

The Quirinal Palace. source: Wikipedia

In 1870, allied with Prussia, the King capitalized on Prussia’s victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War and captured Rome after the French forces withdrew. On September 20, 1870, Vittorio Emanuele entered Rome, established the city as the new capital of Italy, and took up residence at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy.

The remainder of his reign was more peaceful. Vittorio Emanuele focused on building up the new Kingdom of Italy, both financially and culturally, further cementing his legacy as ‘Father of the Fatherland’ (Padre Della Patria), a title given to him by the Italian people. King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy died at the Quirinal Palace on January 8, 1878. He is buried in the Pantheon in Rome.

Tomb of Vittorio Emmanuele II; Credit – By Fczarnowski – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10594487

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