Umberto I becomes King of Italy

Background. Victor Emmanuel II, the first King of Italy, died in Rome in 1878 after receiving last rites and meeting envoys who reversed his excommunication. Umberto, his son, had previously served as a commander in the Royal Sardinian Army. Tensions between father and son were noted by British diplomats in 1876, yet Umberto possessed sufficient wealth to settle his father's debts independently.

Accession and Title. Umberto assumed the throne on 9 January 1878. He chose the title 'Umberto I of Italy' instead of 'Umberto IV' of Savoy, disregarding three ancestral namesakes. This choice reflected a shift in identity from the House of Savoy to the Italian state. He also became Grand Master of the Order of the Annunciation and Saints Maurice and Lazarus on this date.

Political Context. The transition occurred amid strained relations between the monarchy and the Catholic Church, as Victor Emmanuel's excommunication had only recently been lifted before his death. Later in 1878, while touring the kingdom with Queen Margherita and Prime Minister Benedetto Cairoli, Umberto was attacked with a dagger by the anarchist Giovanni Passannante during a parade in Naples on 17 November.