Victor Emmanuel III (November 11, 1869 – December 28, 1947) reigns as King of Italy from July 29, 1900, until his abdication on May 9, 1946.
In addition, he holds the thrones of Ethiopia and Albania as Emperor of Ethiopia (1936–1941) and King of the Albanians (1939–1943).
During his reign of nearly forty-six years, which begins after the assassination of his father Umberto I, the Kingdom of Italy becomes involved in two world wars.
His reign also encompasses the birth, rise, and fall of Italian Fascism and its regime.
During the First World War, Victor Emmanuel III accepts the resignation of Prime Minister Paolo Boselli and names Vittorio Emanuele Orlando (the premier of victory) in his place.
Following the March on Rome, he appoints Benito Mussolini as Prime Minister and later deposes him in 1943 during the Allied invasion of Italy of the Second World War.
Victor Emmanuel abdicates his throne in 1946 in favur of his son Umberto II, hoping to strengthen support for the monarchy against an ultimately successful referendum to abolish it.
He then goes into exile to Alexandria, Egypt, where he dies and is buried the following year in Saint Catherines's Cathedral of Alexandria.
In 2017 his remains are returned to rest in Italy, following an agreement between Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Victor Emmanuel is also called by some Italians Sciaboletta ("little saber"), due to his height of 1.53 meters (5 feet 0 inches), and il Re soldato (the Soldier King), for having led his country during both world wars.
