Rise And Fall

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 5

Rise And Fall

(Snecially written lor “The Press” by KENNETH ANTHONY.) WHEN this stamp was is- ** sued in 1925, to mark the silver jubilee of King Victor Emmanuel, the Italian monarchy appeared to be as well established as most. Certainly no-one imagined that King Victor would be the last Italian monarch to appear on the nation’s stamps. King Victor succeeded his father, King Humbert, in 1900—when the unification of Italy as a modern state was still only 30 years old. When Italy joined the Allied cause in the First World War, he appeared continually in the front line, encouraging and inspiring the Italian troops. He spent so much time at the front that he even appointed his uncle, Ferdinand, as Regent so that he would not be distracted by State business.

When the war ended the King had gained for himself an enviable respect and popularity. Unfortunately, his ednduct of peace-time affairs proved less successful. In October, 1922, he helped to install as Prime Minister a certain blacksmith’s son named Benito Mussolini. In 1925, just as the jubilee stamps with his bemedalled portrait appeared, the King acquiesced in Mussolini’s seizure of dictatorial powers. In the ensuing Fascist State the monarch became a mere figurehead. As Italy became involved in the Second World War and one disaster followed another, the King’s prestige sank with the regime for which many Italians held him responsible. But when the revolt against Fascism started

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in 1943, he co-operated with the Allies. With the liberation of Rome in June, 1944, be struggled to retain bis throne —though offering to relinquish power to his son, Crown Prince Humbert, whom he named as Lieutenant-General of the Realm. Finally he abdicated on May 9, 1946, in favour of Humbert. Victor went into exile in Egypt, dying at Alexandria at the end of the next year. So Victor became both the third and the last king to be portrayed on Italian stamps. For Humbert’s reign was among the shortest of history, it lasted just five weeks. After the hardships of war the Italians were in no mood for the monarchy. In June, 1946, a republic was declared.