Umberto I of Italy

Umberto I became King of Italy upon the death of his father Victor Emmanuel II. His reign was marked by colonial expansion, social unrest, and the strengthening of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Umberto I supported Italy's entry into the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. This defensive alliance shaped Italian foreign policy until World War I, isolating France and aligning Italy with Central Powers.

Umberto I's government pursued colonial expansion in the Horn of Africa, leading to war with Ethiopia. The Italian defeat at the Battle of Adwa in 1896 was a major humiliation, causing his government to fall.

Umberto I authorized General Bava-Beccaris to use artillery against protesters in Milan, killing dozens. He later decorated the general, earning widespread condemnation and making him a target for anarchists.

Anarchist Gaetano Bresci shot and killed Umberto I in Monza. The assassination was motivated by the Bava-Beccaris massacre. Umberto I was succeeded by his son Victor Emmanuel III.