Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples

Vittorio Emanuele
Prince of Naples
Duke of Savoy (disputed)
Vittorio Emanuele in 2013
Head of the House of Savoy
(disputed)
Period18 March 1983 – 3 February 2024
PredecessorKing Umberto II
SuccessorPrince Emanuele Filiberto
Born(1937-02-12)12 February 1937
Naples, Kingdom of Italy
Died3 February 2024(2024-02-03) (aged 86)
Geneva Cantonal Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
Burial1 July 2024
Spouse
(m. 1971)
IssueEmanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice
Names
Italian: Vittorio Emanuele Alberto Carlo Teodoro Umberto Bonifacio Amedeo Damiano Bernardino Gennaro Maria di Savoia
HouseSavoy
FatherUmberto II of Italy
MotherMarie-José of Belgium

Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Naples[1] (Vittorio Emanuele Alberto Carlo Teodoro Umberto Bonifacio Amedeo Damiano Bernardino Gennaro Maria di Savoia;[2][3] 12 February 1937 – 3 February 2024), was the only son of Umberto II, the last King of Italy, and Marie-José of Belgium. Vittorio Emanuele also used the title Duke of Savoy and claimed the headship of the House of Savoy. These claims were disputed by supporters of his third cousin, Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, and later by Amedeo's son, Aimone.

Vittorio Emanuele lived for most of his life in exile, following the 1946 Italian constitutional referendum, which affirmed the abolition of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic. On several occasions, he was the centre of controversy in Italy and abroad due to a series of incidents, including remarks that were seen by some as antisemitic. He was revealed to be a member of Propaganda Due (P2), the state within a state responsible for high-level corruption and political manipulation.[4] In France, he was tried on a murder charge, of which he was cleared of unlawful killing but convicted of a firearms offence. Vittorio Emanuele was arrested in 2006 on charges of criminal association, racketeering, conspiracy, corruption, and exploitation of prostitution.[5] He was acquitted of all charges in 2007 and 2010.[6][7]

  1. ^ Titles associated with the former Italian royal family have not been legally recognised by the Italian government since Temporary Provision XIV was incorporated in the Constitution of Italy in 1946.
  2. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIV. "Haus Italien". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1997, pp. 33, 38–39. ISBN 3-7980-0814-0.
  3. ^ Willis, Daniel, The Descendants of Louis XIII, Clearfield Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1999, p. 673. ISBN 0-8063-4942-5.
  4. ^ Hooper, John (23 June 2006). "The fall of the house of Savoy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  5. ^ Popham, Peter (17 June 2006). "Son of Italy's last king held over Mafia and prostitution claims". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2008. The son of Italy's last king, Prince Victor Emmanuel, has been arrested in the north Italian town of Lecco as part of an investigation into charges he was involved with the Sicilian Mafia and a prostitution racket.
  6. ^ Savoiagate, Vittorio Emanuele assolto Archived 29 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Affaritaliani.it. Retrieved on 26 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Videopoker, assolto Vittorio Emanuele" Archived 29 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Corriere della Sera. 22 September 2010.