In 1946 Italy abolished their monarchy and became a republic. Who was the last King of Italy?

Umberto II was the last King of Italy. He reigned from May 9, 1946 to June 12, 1946, for a total of 34 days. The referendum on the abolition of the monarchy held June 2, 1946 ended his reign with a vote 54% to 46% in favor of forming a republic (with 89% voter turnout).

Umberto's predecessor, Victor Emmanuel III had been closely identified with Mussolini's Fascists before and during the Second World War. Notably because of the king's silence during the passage of purity laws and his acceptance of the crowns of Albania and Ethiopia after those countries were conquered by Italy. Victor Emmanuel III transferred powers to his son Umberto in 1944 to try to repair the image of the monarchy.

In May 1946, Victor Emmanuel III finally abdicated when the national referendum was being prepared. His only son, the 42 year-old Umberto became king less than a month before the referendum would be voted upon. Umberto promised to accept the results and stepped down from the throne on June 12, leaving the country and living in Portugal for the rest of his life. He died in exile in 1983, the 1948 constitution of the Italian Republic barred all male heirs to the defunct Italian throne from ever returning to Italian soil. The rule was changed in 2002.