Princess Giovanna of Savoy

Princess Giovanna of Savoy was a member of the House of Savoy and the daughter of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Princess Elena of Montenegro. She was the sister of Umberto II of Italy, Princess Mafalda of Savoy, and Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy. As a member of the Italian royal family, she was closely related to other European monarchs, including Haakon VII of Norway and Christian X of Denmark. Her family's history was marked by significant events, such as the Treaty of London (1915) and the Battle of Caporetto.

Early Life

Princess Giovanna of Savoy was born in Rome, Kingdom of Italy, on 13 November 1907, to Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Princess Elena of Montenegro. Her early life was spent in the Quirinal Palace in Rome, surrounded by her siblings, including Umberto II of Italy, Princess Mafalda of Savoy, and Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy. She received an education fitting for a member of the royal family, with a focus on languages, history, and the arts, similar to her contemporaries, such as Marie of Romania and Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia. Her family's connections to other European monarchs, including George V of the United Kingdom and Alfonso XIII of Spain, played a significant role in shaping her upbringing.

Marriage and Family

On 25 January 1930, Princess Giovanna of Savoy married Boris III of Bulgaria in Assisi, Kingdom of Italy. The marriage was attended by members of European royal families, including Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Leopold III of Belgium. The couple had two children, Marie Louise of Bulgaria and Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who would go on to play important roles in Bulgarian history. As the wife of the Tsar of Bulgaria, Princess Giovanna of Savoy was involved in various charitable and cultural activities, similar to other royal consorts, such as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Juliana of the Netherlands. Her marriage to Boris III of Bulgaria also brought her into contact with other notable figures, including Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Titles and Styles

As a member of the House of Savoy, Princess Giovanna of Savoy held the title of Princess of Savoy. After her marriage to Boris III of Bulgaria, she became the Tsaritsa of Bulgaria. She was also known as Her Royal Highness and was entitled to use the Royal Crown of Bulgaria. Her titles and styles were similar to those of other European royal consorts, such as Wallis, Duchess of Windsor and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. As a member of the Italian royal family, she was also related to other notable figures, including Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia and Charles Felix of Sardinia.

Later Life and Death

After the death of her husband, Boris III of Bulgaria, in 1943, Princess Giovanna of Savoy continued to play an active role in Bulgarian society, despite the country's Soviet occupation. She was eventually forced into exile, settling in Estoril, Portugal, where she lived for many years, surrounded by other members of the European royal diaspora, including Otto von Habsburg and Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona. Princess Giovanna of Savoy died on 26 February 2000, at the age of 92, and was buried in the Braganza Pantheon in Lisbon, Portugal. Her legacy is remembered alongside that of other notable royal women, including Queen Marie of Romania and Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia. Her life and experiences are also closely tied to significant historical events, such as the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine and the Yalta Conference. Category:House of Savoy