Victor Emmanuel III ruled the Kingdom of Italy from July 29, 1900, to May 9, 1946. A hesitant and indecisive ruler, Victor Emmanuel’s reign was plagued by political violence and instability. His inaction allowed for the rise of Italian Fascism and his support for Benito Mussolini tainted the image of the Italian monarchy to the point that it led to its eventual abolishment.
Born on November 11, 1869, Victor Emmanuel (born Vittorio Emanuele Ferdinando Maria Gennaro di Savoia) was the only legitimate child of Umberto I of Italy. As a child, he spent most of his time out of the public eye, suffering physical disabilities that forced him to wear orthopedic instruments that strengthened his legs. These disabilities may have stunted his growth as Victor Emmanuel stood just over five feet tall in adulthood. Due to his solitary childhood, Victor Emmanuel had a reputation for being shy and reserved. Despite his reserved nature, he still received the traditional military upbringing expected of his family.
On July 29, 1900, an Italian anarchist assassinated his father. Victor Emmanuel assumed the throne as Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. His father left him mostly unprepared for the position and Victor Emmanuel had a well-known disdain for the stresses of politics. However, the kingdom’s constitution, the Statuto Albertino, provided him considerable power for a constitutional monarch. Despite this power, Victor Emmanuel stayed out of Italy’s politics, only interfering on a handful of occasions as the nation suffered from periodic political instability.
