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Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia
2nd Duca d'Aosta
(1869–1931)

Other names: Emanuele Filiberto Vittorio Eugenio Alberto Genova Giuseppe Maria

Biographical

2nd Duca d'Aosta 1890–1931†
Duca delle Puglie 1869–90
Príncipe de Asturias 1870–73
Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy 1916 [Italy]
Knight of the Order of the Holy Annunciation 1890 [Italy]
Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta [Vatican]
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus [Italy]
Knight of the Order of the Crown [Saxony]
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy [Italy]
Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword [Portugal]
Knight of the Order of the Garter 1902 [England]
Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece 1899 [Spain]
Knight of the Order of St Hubert [Bavaria]
Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim [Sweden]
Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle [Prussia]
Medal of Military Valour, gold 1937 [Italy]

President of the Military Order of Savoy
Marshal of Italy 1926
President of the Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro 1925–1927 res.
Inspector general of the infantry 1919–20
General 1919
Lieutenant general 1902
Major general 1897
Lieutenant colonel 1893
Senator of the Kingdom of Italy 1890
Lieutenant 1888

In 1873, Emanuele returned to Italy with his family after his father's abdication as king of Spain. He entered the Military Academy of Turin at the age of fifteen, and once he completed his period there, he was made lieutenant of the 5th Regiment at Venaria in 1888. He was then transferred to 17th regiment, in Novara, as captain and again to the 19th regiment, in Florence, with the rank of major. During this period he travelled abroad with his father, establishing good relations with the royal houses of Belgium and England. As Duke of Aosta, he resided at Florence, but travelled often, one of his most important trips at the time being to England in 1892. Seeking to marry, he focused his attention on the two daughters of the Prince of Wales, but decided to marry Princesse Hélène of Orléans. However, Queen Margherita and her prime minister refused to grant him permission as his cousin, Vittorio Emanuele, was still unmarried. The Duke resumed his military career. In 1895, he moved to the castle of La Mandria, and then finally received permission to marry Princesse Hélène. He expressed his desire to serve in the war with Ethiopia, but this was not granted due to his lack of experience and, it was said, his 'complete ignorance of African affairs'. Instead, he was appointed commander of the general infantry of Turin in 1897. Afterwards he moved to the Palazzo Cisterna where he often hosted his Orléans relatives, much to the chagrin of his stepmother, Letizia Bonaparte. He continued his military career and in 1902 he was appointed commander of the Turin military division, and in 1905, he was sent to Naples as commander of the army corps. His family and his entire court transferred to Naples, a sign of a permanent move, and settled in the Royal Palace of Capodimonte. There they established a court that for almost a decade stood out for its pomp and ceremonies. In 1910, he was appointed an army commander in war, but the government still refused to allow him to take the field. Finally, in 1915, he was appointed head of the 3rd army and was sent to the Karst for the conquest of Gorizia and Trieste. The success at Gorizia in 1916 proved the courage and skill of the Duke, and he achieved great popularity. In 1918, he entered Trieste and remained there with his troops until 1919, and then settled at Turin. In 1920, he and his wife were exiled to Belgium for his criticism of the government over its claims to Fiume, and was stood down from his post as inspector general of the infantry. The Duke considered this a personal attack, and the press reported this as the King's fear of the Duke's popularity amongst the troops. In the following years, the Duke had begun o openly support Mussolini. It was reported to the King that the fascists were prepared to replace him with the Duke if Mussolini had not been granted the presidency of the Council, and although there was little evidence of this, the King still feared him. In 1923 the Duke was nominated as a member of the Army council, but he fell seriously ill with pneumonia, although he recovered. He was never received any appointments of real power during the Fascist regime, but was made president of the Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro in 1925, and marshal of Italy in the following year, and held numerous other positions. During World War One, he was the main symbol of Italian soldiers, who revered him as the 'unconquered duke' because o of his military achievements. In 1931, he was struck down with pneumonia again. He died shortly after a final visit from the King at his Palazzo Cisterna. He was buried with next to the soldiers of the 3rd Army.

Place of birth: Genova
Place of baptism: Genova
Place of marriage: Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey
Place of death: Cisterna Palace, Turin
Place of burial: Redipuglia cemetery, Udine

Son of King Amadeo I of Spain and Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo. He married Princesse Hélène de France (Bourbon-Orléans) in 1895, and had issue.

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