King Umberto II was the last king of Italy, reigning for a brief period in 1946. Born on September 15, 1904, he was the son of King Victor Emmanuel III and Queen Elena. His reign lasted only 35 days, as he became king after his father's abdication in May 1946, during a time of political turmoil following World War II. After a referendum in June 1946, the Italian people voted to abolish the monarchy, leading to Umberto's exile. He spent the rest of his life in Switzerland, where he passed away on March 18, 1983. His short reign marked the end of the Italian monarchy.