Umberto I of Italy

Umberto I or Humbert I of Italy (Umberto Ranieri Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio of Savoy), (14 March, 1844 – 29 July, 1900). Officially nicknamed "the Good", was the King of Italy from 9 January, 1878 until his death. He was deeply loathed in left-wing circles, especially among anarchists, because of his hard-line conservativism and support of the Bava Beccaris massacre in Milan. He was killed by anarchist Gaetano Bresci one year after the incident. He was the only modern King of Italy to be assassinated.

Reign

Ascending the throne on the death of his father (January 9, 1878), Humbert adopted the title "Humbert I of Italy" rather than "Humbert IV" (of Savoy), and consented that the remains of his father should be interred at Rome in the Pantheon, and not in the royal mausoleum of Superga.

Related Topics:
January 9 - 1878 - Rome - Pantheon - Mausoleum - Superga

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First murder attempt

While on a tour of the kingdom, accompanied by premier Benedetto Cairoli, he was attacked by an anarchist, Giovanni Passanante, during a parade in Naples (November 17, 1878). The king warded off the blow with his sabre, but Cairoli, in attempting to defend him, was severely wounded in the thigh. The would-be assassin was condemned to death, but the king commuted the sentence to one of penal servitude for life. The incident upset the health of queen Margaret for several years.

Related Topics:
Benedetto Cairoli - Giovanni Passanante - November 17 - 1878 - Condemned to death

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Turmoil

The reign of Humbert I was a time of social upheaval, even though it was later claimed to have been a tranquil belle époque. Social tensions mounted as a consequence of the relatively recent occupation of the kingdom of the two Sicilies, spreading of socialist ideas, public hostility against the colonialist plans of the various governments, especially Crispi's, and the numerous crackdowns on civil liberties. Among the protesters, there was even the young, and then left-wing, Benito Mussolini.

Related Topics:
Kingdom of the two Sicilies - Socialist - Crispi - Civil liberties - Benito Mussolini

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Alliances and Colonialism

The Bava Beccaris Incident

During the colonial wars in Africa, large demonstrations over the rising price of bread were held in Italy and on May 7, 1898 the city of Milan was put under military control by General Fiorenzo Bava-Beccaris, who ordered the use of cannons on the demonstrators; as a result, about 100 people were killed according to the authorities (even though some claim the death toll was about 350); about a thousand were wounded. King Humbert sent a telegram to congratulate Bava Beccaris with the restoration of order and later decorated him with the medal of Great Official of Savoy Military Order, greatly outraging a large part of the public opinion.

Related Topics:
May 7 - 1898 - Milan - General - Fiorenzo Bava-Beccaris - Cannon - Public opinion

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To a limited extent his popularity was enhanced by the firmness of his attitude towards the Vatican, as exemplified in his telegram declaring Rome "intangible" (20 September, 1886), and affirming the permanence of the Italian possession of the "Eternal City".

Related Topics:
Vatican - 20 September - 1886

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Death

Being increasingly unpopular, Humbert I was victim of yet another murder attempt, by an unemployed ironsmith, Pietro Acciarito, who tried to stab him near Rome on 22 April, 1897.

Related Topics:
Pietro Acciarito - 22 April - 1897

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Finally, he was murdered with four revolver shots by the Italo-American anarchist Gaetano Bresci in Monza, on the evening of 29 July, 1900. Bresci claimed he wanted to revenge the people killed by Bava Beccaris. Official propaganda gave the assassinated king the nickname "the Good".

Related Topics:
Gaetano Bresci - Monza - 29 July - 1900 - Propaganda

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He was buried in the Pantheon in Rome, by the side of Victor Emmanuel II, on 9 August, 1900. He was also the last Savoy being buried there, as his son and successor Victor Emmanuel III died in exile.

Related Topics:
9 August - 1900 - Victor Emmanuel III

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