Victor Emmanuel III was the King of Italy from 1900 to 1946. Born on November 11, 1869, in Naples, he was the son of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Italy. Victor Emmanuel III ascended to the throne after the assassination of his father in 1900. He married Elena Petrovich, granddaughter of Grand Duchess Elena of Russia, and together they had five children.
During his reign, Victor Emmanuel III faced significant challenges, including World War I and World War II. His involvement in both conflicts had a profound impact on the nation. Despite remaining neutral at the beginning of World War I, Italy eventually joined the Allies in 1915. However, the outcome of the war brought disappointment to Italy, as the fulfillment of territorial promises was limited, leading to social unrest.
In the following decades, Victor Emmanuel III's reign was marked by the rise of Benito Mussolini and his fascist regime. Although initially hesitant, the king ultimately appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister in 1922, giving way to the establishment of a fascist dictatorship. Victor Emmanuel III remained king throughout the fascist era, even during Italy's participation in World War II as part of the Axis powers.
However, as Italy faced imminent defeat in 1943, the king dismissed Mussolini and allied with the Allies, leading to the collapse of the fascist regime. After the war, a national referendum was held in 1946, abolishing the monarchy and establishing Italy as a republic. Victor Emmanuel III abdicated in favor of his son, Umberto II, and eventually died in exile in 1947 in Alexandria, Egypt.
Overall, Victor Emmanuel III's reign was characterized by significant political and social changes in Italy, including the rise and fall of fascism
