Philibert of Savoy-Genoese

Early years

Prince Filiberto Lodovico Massimiliano Emanuele Maria was born in Turin on March 10, 1895. He was the second son and second child in the family of Prince Tommaso Alberto Vittorio, 2nd Duke of Genoa and Princess Isabella Maria Elizabeth of Bavaria , daughter of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria . On September 22, 1904, King Vittorio Emanuele III awarded him the personal title of Duke of Pisto ^{[1] [2]} .

Military career

During the First World War, the duke participated in the battles of Monfalcone and Isonzo as part of the 1st Nice Cavalry Regiment. November 4, 1918, with the squadron of his regiment, one of the first to enter the city of Trento in South Tyrol. After the war, he moved his residence to Bolzano to strengthen the sense of national unity among the local population.

In 1929, he was awarded the rank of colonel. In 1932 - 1933 he commanded the 232nd Infantry Regiment, in 1933 - 1934 - the 11th Infantry Brigade. In 1934 he received the rank of brigadier general. In 1935, in Ethiopia he was appointed commander in chief of the 1st Division of Black Shirts, March 23, of the Voluntary National Security Police . In 1936 he was awarded the title of Major General. In 1937 - 1938 - the commander general of the 11th Brenner Infantry Division, in 1938 - 1939 - the Alpine Group of Forces, in 1940 - the 7th Army. In 1942, he was appointed inspector of the mobile group of forces.

He participated in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War . His division was the first to raise the flag of the Italian kingdom over Mount Amba-Arad . For this, the Duke of Pisto received the silver medal "For Military Valor" and the Military Order of Savoy ^[3] .

During the fascist era, the Anti-State Supervisory Authority opened a dossier on him due to alleged homosexuality . Despite the fact that he was a supporter of Benito Mussolini , tried not to participate in the politics and life of the court.

Personal life

In Turin, on April 30, 1928, the prince Filiberto of Savoy-Genoa, the Duke of Pisto, married Lydia von Arenberg (1.04.1905 - 07.23.1977), daughter of , 9th Duke of von Arenberg, 15th Duke of von Ershot and Croye, 4th Duke von Meppen, 4th Prince von Recklinghausen, Count von Mark and Princess Gedwig de Lin. There were no children in marriage ^{[1] [2]} .

Candidate for Kings

In 1941, when Ante Pavelic proposed the throne of the independent state of Croatia to the House of Savoy , King Vittorio Emanuele III was to choose a candidate for the throne from the Aosta or Genoese branches of the dynasty.

He ruled out the candidacy of Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta , since he was in British captivity, Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy-Aosta and Ferdinando of Savoy-Genoese , since both were already in their advanced years, married and childless. The choice of the king settled on two young married princes - Aymon of Savoy-Aosta , Duke of Spolet and Filiberto of Savoy-Genoa, Duke of Pistoia. The Duke of Spoletsky became the Croatian king under the name Tomislav II.

During the Second World War, after the occupation of Nice in 1942, the fascist government decided to restore the ancient county of Nice , whose ruler was to be the duke of Pisto. The project was never implemented.

Later years

In 1946, after the abolition of the monarchy in Italy, the Duke of Pisto moved to Lausanne in Switzerland, where his wife had private property. A few years later, the couple divorced. The duke returned to Italy. For thirty years he lived with his younger brother, the Duke of Bergamo, at the Ligure Hotel in Carlo Felice Square in Turin. In 1963, after the death of his elder brother, who died without leaving any heirs, the Duke of Pisto took the title of Duke of Genoa.

In 1981, after the closure of the Ligure Hotel, he moved to the Concord Hotel on Via Lagrange. Then he moved to Lausanne and settled in the house, which he inherited from his will from his ex-wife, who died in 1977.

Throughout his life, the duke did not enjoy special respect among the members of the dynasty. Once King Vittorio Emanuele III, in a private conversation with Galeazo Ciano, called the Duke of Pisto and his younger brother - the Duke of Bergamo, imbeciles. Also during the 1946 referendum, the Minister of the Royal Court, , in his diary spoke very critically about the mental abilities of the duke brothers, but not about their lifestyle, which was always modest and simple.

Prince Filiberto Lodovico Massimiliano Emanuele Maria of Savoy, 4th Duke of Genoa, died in Lausanne on September 7, 1990. He was buried in the Savoy dynasty in the basilica of Superga ^{[1] [2]} .

  Duke of Genoa

Contact Forms

• 03/10/1895 - 09/22/1904 His Royal Highness, Prince Filiberto of Savoy-Genoa ;
• 09/22/1904 - 06/24/1963 His Royal Highness, Prince Filiberto of Savoy-Genoa, Duke of Pisto ;
• 06/24/1963 - 09/07/1990 His Royal Highness, Prince Filiberto of Savoy-Genoa, Duke of Genoa ^[2] .

Awards

• Savòia, Filiberto Ludovico di, duca di Pistoia (Italian)
• Savòia, Filiberto Ludovico di, duca di Pistoia // Enciclopedia Italiana (1936) (Italian)