Italy hasn’t had a king since 1946. Back then, people voted in a referendum to end the monarchy after World War II and set up a republic. The House of Savoy had ruled the unified Kingdom of Italy from 1861, but ties to Mussolini’s regime hurt its reputation badly.
The last King was Umberto II. He reigned for only a month and is sometimes called the May King. His father, King Victor Emmanuel III, had worked with the fascists for years. King Umberto left for exile in Portugal and died in 1983.
His only son, Vittorio Emanuele, became the main claimant after that. Vittorio lived mostly in Switzerland, faced scandals over the years, and died in February 2024 at age 86.
Now things get complicated. Vittorio’s son, Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice, stepped up as head of the family. He appears on TV, runs businesses, and keeps the Savoy name visible. In 2020, the family changed old rules that allowed only men to inherit claims. Emanuele Filiberto plans to pass his position to his eldest daughter, Vittoria di Savoia, a young influencer born in 2003. Some see this as modern, fitting today’s world.
But not everyone agrees. A rival branch, the Savoy-Aosta line, says those changes don’t count. They stick to strict male-only succession from the old kingdom’s laws. Vittorio married without his father’s permission in 1971, so critics argue he lost his rights back then. His cousin Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, challenged the main line in 2006 and claimed headship himself until he died in 2021.
Today, Amedeo’s son, Aimone di Savoia Aosta, leads that branch. Aimone works in business, lives quietly, and has three children, including sons. Many traditional monarchists back him as the proper claimant under unchanged rules.
Courts have weighed in on name use, but no one has settled the dynastic fight. Monarchist groups split their support between the branches.
If Italy somehow brought back the monarchy, which almost nobody expects, the choice would spark a huge debate. One side pushes Vittoria as a fresh start. The other insists on Aimone, who follows historical laws. For now, both sides keep titles alive, but the crown stays firmly in the past.
Be the first to comment on "Who are the multiple claimants to the defunct Italian throne?"