AMEDEO FERDINANDO MARIA DI SAVOIA  ,

duke of Aosta (1845-1890), third son of Victor Emmanuel II., king of Italy, and of Adelaide, archduchess of Austria, was born at Turin on the 3oth of May 1845 . Entering the army as captain in 1859 he 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 . In May 1867 he married the princess Maria Carlotta del Pozzo della Cisterna . In 1868 he was created vice-admiral of the Italian navy, but, two years later, left Italy to ascend the Spanish throne, his reluctance to accept the invitation of the Cortes having been overridden by the Italian cabinet . On the 16th of November 187o he was pro-claimed king of Spain by the Cortes; 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, Amedeo 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'etat . Though warned of a plot: against his life (August 18, 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 . On the rith of February 1873, however, Amedeo, 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 .