Stanislaw I Leszczynski vs Umberto I

Stanislaw I Leszczynski was elected King of Poland by a confederation of nobles supported by Sweden's Charles XII during the Great Northern War. His election was contested by Augustus II, leading to a civil war and Swedish intervention.

After Sweden's defeat at the Battle of Poltava, Stanislaw I lost Swedish support and was forced to abdicate the Polish throne. Augustus II was restored as king, and Stanislaw went into exile.

Stanislaw I's daughter, Marie Leszczynska, married King Louis XV of France. This marriage elevated Stanislaw's status and provided him with a French pension and the Duchy of Lorraine as a compensation for losing the Polish throne.

Following the death of Augustus II, Stanislaw I was elected King of Poland for a second time. This election sparked the War of the Polish Succession, as Russia and Austria supported a rival candidate, Augustus III.

After the War of the Polish Succession ended, Stanislaw I formally abdicated the Polish throne. He was granted the Duchy of Lorraine and Bar as a lifetime fief, where he ruled until his death.

Stanislaw I became Duke of Lorraine and Bar, ruling the territories until his death. He implemented administrative reforms, supported the arts, and founded the Stanislas Library and the Royal Society of Sciences and Letters in Nancy.

Umberto I oversaw Italy's entry into the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. This defensive alliance aligned Italy with the Central Powers, shaping its foreign policy until World War I. The alliance was renewed several times during his reign.

Umberto I's government launched a colonial war against Ethiopia. The Italian army suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, forcing Italy to recognize Ethiopian independence. The defeat caused a political crisis and the fall of Prime Minister Crispi.

During bread riots in Milan, General Fiorenzo Bava-Beccaris ordered troops to fire on protesters, killing dozens and wounding hundreds. Umberto I publicly praised the general and awarded him a medal, which intensified public anger and contributed to the king's assassination.

Umberto I was shot and killed by anarchist Gaetano Bresci in Monza. Bresci acted in protest of the Bava-Beccaris massacre and the king's support for repressive measures. The assassination ended Umberto's reign and brought Victor Emmanuel III to the throne.