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Umberto I of Italy

Umberto I (Italian: Ranieri Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio di Savoia) reigned as King of Italy from January 9, 1878, until his assassination on July 29, 1900. Born on March 14, 1844, in Turin, Sardinia, Umberto was the son of Vittorio Emanuele II and Maria Adelaide of Austria.

Umberto's early life was marked by a lack of affection or love from his family. He was taught to be loyal and obedient, but this upbringing had a lasting impact on his personality. As he grew older, Umberto became increasingly conservative and authoritarian in his views, which would later contribute to controversy during his reign.

In 1866, Umberto commanded the XVI Division at the Villafranca battle following Italy's defeat at Custoza. This event was part of the Third War of Italian Independence, a conflict that saw various royal families establish relations with the newly founded Italian royal family due to the upheaval caused by the House of Savoy.

Umberto married his cousin, Margherita Teresa Giovanna, Princess of Saboya, in 1868. The couple had one son, Victor Emmanuel, Prince of Naples. However, Umberto's personal life was also marked by numerous mistresses, with Eugenia, wife of Duke Litta Visconti-Arese, being his favorite companion.

During his reign, Umberto faced criticism for his handling of various issues, including the cholera epidemic in Naples in 1884 and the promulgation of the Zanardelli code, which brought some innovations to the penal code but also led to controversy. His authoritarian tendencies and indirect involvement in scandals, such as the Roman Bank scandal and the repression of popular motions in 1898, further eroded his popularity.

Umberto's rule was cut short when he was assassinated by Gaetano Bresci, an Italian-American anarchist, on July 29, 1900. The assassination occurred two years after the massacre of Bava Beccaris, which had a significant impact on Umberto's life and reign.