The King Who Ruled for Only 34 Days and Lost Everything

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]The king who gave his people democracy was destroyed by democracy itself.

[00:00:04][music] It's May 1946, Rome, Italy.

[00:00:08]Prince Umberto becomes king as fascism crumbles and [music] his father flees into exile. Unlike the previous king who backed Mussolini, [music] Umberto embraces change. He promises women the vote, constitutional limits on royal power, and a modern monarchy for a new Italy. He travels from village to village shaking hands and kissing babies. Crowds cheer as he pledges to serve the people, not rule them. For weeks he believes his charm will save the crown, [music] but Republican leaders work in secret organizing a referendum to abolish the monarchy entirely. [music] Umberto campaigns harder promising more reforms and more freedom. He trusts that Italians will choose a democratic king over no king at all. On June 2nd, 1946, Italy votes in its first free election with universal suffrage. The results come in slowly.

[00:01:00]>> [music] >> 54% vote to end the monarchy forever.

[00:01:04]The same democratic values he championed [music] give Italians the power to exile him.

[00:01:09]The king who trusted democracy was Umberto the second.