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Amadeo I
King of Spain
(1845–90)

Other names: Amedeo Ferdinando Maria

Biographical

King of Spain 1870–73 dep
1st Duca d'Aosta 1845–90†
Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece 1870 [Spain]
Knight of the Order St Benedict of Avis [Portugal]
Knight of the Military Order of Christ [Portugal]
Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle [Prussia]
Knight of the Order of St Hubert [Bavaria]
Medal of Military Valour, gold, 1866 [Italy]
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy 1862 [Italy]
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus 1862 [Italy]
Knight of the Order of the Holy Annunciation 1862 [Italy]

Inspector general of the cavalry 1887
Inspector general of the army 1873
Lieutenant colonel 1873
Vice admiral 1868
Major general 1866
Colonel 1863
Lieutenant colonel 1861
Major 1860
Infantry captain 1859

Entering the army as captain in 1859, Amadeo fought through the campaign of 1866 with the rank of major-general, leading his brigade into action at Custozza and being wounded at Monte Torre. He left Italy in 1870 to ascend the Spanish throne, his reluctance to accept the invitation of the Cortes having been overridden by the Italian cabinet. He was proclaimed king of Spain by the Cortes in November that year, but, before he could arrive at Madrid, Marshal Prim, chief promoter of his candidature, was assassinated. Undeterred by rumours of a plot against his own life, Amadeo entered Madrid alone, riding at some distance from his suite to the church where Marshal Prim's body lay in state. His efforts as constitutional king were paralysed by the rivalry between the various Spanish factions, but with the approval of his father, he rejected all idea of a coup d'état. Though warned of a plot against his life in 1872, he refused to take precautions, and, while returning from Buen Retiro to Madrid in company with the queen, was repeatedly shot at in Via Avenal. The royal carriage was struck by several revolver and rifle bullets, the horses wounded, but its occupants escaped unhurt. A period of calm followed the outrage. In 1873, however, Amadeo, abandoned by his partisans and attacked more fiercely than ever by his opponents, signed his abdication. Upon returning to Italy, he was cordially welcomed and reinstated in his former position. He afterwards received additional posts in the military, and was made president of the committee for Turin at the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris.

Place of birth: Turin
Place of first marriage: Chapel of the royal palace, Turin
Place of second marriage: Cathedral of Turin
Place of death: Turin
Place of burial: Basilica of Superga

Son of King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy and Maria Adelheid, Archduchess of Austria (Habsburg). He was married firstly to Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo in 1867, with issue, and secondly to Princesse Marie Letizia Bonaparte in 1888, with issue.

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