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Umberto II of Italy

Racconigi, 15 Sep 1904 – Geneva, 18 Mar 1983

14 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born15 Sep 1904, Racconigior 15 Aug 1904Records disagree1 source
  • MarriedMarie José of Belgiumnot verified1 source
  • TitleHead of the House of Savoyor steward, 1943–1946 · Monarch of Italy, 1946not verified1 source
  • Titlesteward, 1943–1946or Monarch of Italy, 1946 · Head of the House of Savoynot verified1 source
  • TitleMonarch of Italy, 1946or steward, 1943–1946 · Head of the House of Savoynot verified1 source
  • EventBaptism of Umberto, Prince of Piedmont (1904)not verified1 source
  • Died18 Mar 1983, Genevanot verified1 source
  • MotherElena of Montenegronot verified1 source
  • FatherVictor Emmanuel III of Italynot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 15 Sep 1904

    Born in Racconigi

  2. 1934–1943

    4 children are born

  3. 1943–1946

    Steward

  4. 1946

    Monarch of Italy

  5. 18 Mar 1983

    Dies in Geneva, aged 78

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 4

During his lifetime

He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Racconigi.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1900s · Umberto II is born in Racconigi

Who governed

In the news1906

Simplon Tunnel opens, 1906

In 1906, the Simplon Tunnel, at 19.7 km the world's longest at the time, opened, connecting Italy and Switzerland by rail.

Music

Christmas Music by Zampognari Musicians

At Christmastime, zampognari musicians traveled from the Abruzzi mountains to Naples, playing bagpipes and the ciaramella to perform music before images of the Holy Infant during the nine-day Novena.

Powered flight. The Wright brothers flew a powered aeroplane at Kitty Hawk in 1903; in 1906 Santos-Dumont flew the 14-bis in Paris.Around the world · 1903–1906

Powered flight. The Wright brothers flew a powered aeroplane at Kitty Hawk in 1903; in 1906 Santos-Dumont flew the 14-bis in Paris.

Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright (credited as photographers) [1], [2] · public domain

Daily life

Free company-provided school for workers' children

At the Crespi factory school, the company provided everything for children, including all textbooks, pens, and the salaries and housing for their teachers.

In the news1905

Nationalization of Italian Railways, 1905

In 1905, the Italian state nationalized the railway network, forming the State Railways (FS) to modernize transport and boost heavy industry.

What people wore

Apron signals romantic interest

In mountain villages, women used their aprons as a silent language; moving the apron to the right side signaled a romantic interest in a young man.

Getting around

Reaching the train station by mule cart

For many people in the early 1900s, reaching a train station required walking down mountain paths to a village where they could catch a mule cart. This was often the first time individuals had traveled beyond a few miles from their birthplace.