Victor Emmanuel III of Italy

Who was Victor Emmanuel III of Italy?

Victor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy. In addition, he claimed the thrones of Ethiopia and Albania as Emperor of Ethiopia and King of the Albanians, which were unrecognised by the great powers. During his long reign, which began after the assassination of his father Umberto I, the Kingdom of Italy became involved in two World Wars. His reign also encompassed the birth, rise, and fall of Italian Fascism.

Victor Emmanuel abdicated his throne in 1946 to his son Umberto II, hoping to strengthen the support for the monarchy against an ultimately successful referendum to abolish it. He then fled to Alexandria, Egypt, where he died and was buried the following year.

He was nicknamed by the Italians as "Re soldato" and "Re vittorioso" after Italy was victorious in the First World War. He was also called "Re tappo" due to his height of 1.53 metres.