Amadeo I of Spain
An Italian prince thrust onto the Spanish throne during a turbulent three-year reign that ended with his abdication and the declaration of a republic.
1845–1890 (age 45)·King of Spain from 1870 to 1873·Birthday: May 30
Biography
Amadeo I's story is a brief, strange chapter in European monarchy. The second son of Italy's first king, Victor Emmanuel II, he was a Savoyard duke with a military career when a desperate search for a constitutional monarch for Spain landed on him. Elected king by the Cortes in 1870, he arrived in a nation fractured by civil war, colonial rebellions, and incessant political intrigue. His short reign was a masterclass in frustration; well-intentioned and dutiful, he found himself powerless against the shifting alliances of Spanish politicians and the bitter hostility of Carlist and Republican factions. The final straw was not a grand battle, but the collapse of his supporting coalition. In 1873, he simply gave up, declaring the Spanish people ungovernable and returning to Italy. His abdication directly led to the First Spanish Republic, making him the last king of Spain for over half a century.
#1 When Amadeo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1845
Amadeo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1845Born
1850Started school
1858Became a teenager
1861Could drive
President: Abraham Lincoln
1863Could vote
President: Abraham Lincoln
1866Turned 21
President: Andrew Johnson
1875Turned 30
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1885Turned 40
Karl Benz builds the first gasoline-powered automobile
President: Grover Cleveland
1890Died at 45
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
Key Achievements
- He was the only King of Spain elected by a parliamentary vote (the Cortes Generales).
- His reign saw the passage of the 1870 Spanish Constitution, which expanded suffrage.
- He formally approved the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico in 1873.
- He maintained strict constitutional neutrality despite intense political pressure throughout his reign.
Did You Know?
He was a Grand Master of the Spanish branch of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Before becoming King of Spain, he held the title Duke of Aosta, a title later used by his descendants.
His wife, Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo, was known for her charity work during a cholera epidemic in Spain.
“Spain is still ungovernable. Today the blood of the same people is being shed on both sides.”
