Prince Umberto of Italy
(1844-1900)

On the death of his father Vittorio Emanuele II in 1878, Prince Umberto of Italy succeeded to the Italian throne as King Umberto I (sometimes called King Humbert I in English).

His tour of northern Italy and his visit to cholera-stricken Naples in the year of his accession contributed to the growth of national consciousness in Italy. The Crown did not remain a symbol of unity for long, as Umberto brought the monarchy into disrepute by his encouragement of Crispi’s disastrous colonial adventures and later, by his approval of martial law in Sicily (1898). However, the king himself was never a blind reactionary and he moderated the more extreme policies of some of his ministers.

King Umberto I was assassinated at Monza near Milan on 29 July 1900.