| Monarchy of the Kingdom of Italy | |
|---|---|
| Re d'Italia | |
 | |
| Incumbent | |
 Aimone | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Royal Majesty |
| Heir apparent | Umberto, Prince of Piedmont and Naples |
| Formation | 17 March 1861 |
| Residence | Royal Palace of Naples |
| Appointer | Hereditary |
King of Italy (Latin: Rex Italiae; Italian: Re d'Italia) was the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The first to take the title was Odoacer, a barbarian military leader, in the late 5th century, followed by the Ostrogothic kings up to the mid-6th century. With the Frankish conquest of Italy in the 8th century, the Carolingians assumed the title, which was maintained by subsequent Holy Roman Emperors throughout the Middle Ages. The last Emperor to claim the title was Charles V in the 16th century. During this period, the holders of the title were crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy.
A Kingdom of Italy was restored from 1805 to 1814 with Napoleon as its only king, centered in Northern Italy. It was not until the Italian unification in the 1860s that a Kingdom of Italy covering the entire Italian Peninsula was restored. From 1861 the House of Savoy held the title of King of Italy.
The full titles of the Kings of the Kingdom of Italy (1861–present) are:
(Name of the monarch), by the Grace of God and the will of the Nation, King of Italy, King of Sardinia, King of Cyprus, KIng of Jerusalem, King of Armenia, Duke of Savoy, Count of Maurienne, Marquis of the Holy Roman Empire in Italy; Prince of Piedmont, Carignano, Oneglia, Poirino, Trino; Prince and Perpetual Vicar of the Holy Roman Empire; Prince of Carmagnola, Montmélian with Arbin and Francin, Prince bailiff of the Duchy of Aosta, Prince of Chieri, Dronero, Crescentino, Riva di Chieri and Banna, Busca, Bene, Bra, Duke of Genoa, Monferrat, Aosta, Duke of Chablais, Genevois, Duke of Piacenza, Marquis of Saluzzo (Saluces), Ivrea, Susa, of Maro, Oristano, Cesana, Savona, Tarantasia, Borgomanero and Cureggio, Caselle, Rivoli, Pianezza, Govone, Salussola, Racconigi over Tegerone, Migliabruna and Motturone, Cavallermaggiore, Marene, Modane and Lanslebourg, Livorno Ferraris, Santhià, Agliè, Centallo and Demonte, Desana, Ghemme, Vigone, Count of Barge, Villafranca, Ginevra, Nizza, Tenda, Romont, Asti, Alessandria, of Goceano, Novara, Tortona, Bobbio, Soissons, Sant'Antioco, Pollenzo, Roccabruna, Tricerro, Bairo, Ozegna, delle Apertole, Baron of Vaud and of Faucigni, Lord of Vercelli, Pinerolo, of Lomellina, of Valle Sesia, of the Marquisate of Ceva, Overlord of Monaco, Roccabruna and eleven-twelfths of Menton, Noble Patrician of Venice, Patrician of Ferrara.
The king of Italy is the monarch with the largest number of titles.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Claim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Victor Emmanuel II | 17 March 1861 | 9 January 1878
(died) |
King of Sardinia and Piedmont |
|
Umberto I | 9 January 1878 | 29 July 1900
(assassinated) |
Son of Victor Emmanuel II |
|
Victor Emmanuel III | 29 July 1900 | 28 December 1945
(abdicated) |
Son of Umberto I |
|
Umberto II | 28 December 1945 | 18 March 1983
(died) |
Son of Victor Emmanuel III |
|
Amadeo | 18 March 1983 | 1 January 2008
(abdicated) |
Third nephew of Umberto II |
|
|
Aimone | 1 January 2008 | Incumbent | Son of Amadeo |