Princess Mafalda of Savoy

Princess Mafalda of Savoy was a member of the House of Savoy and the daughter of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Elena of Montenegro. She was the sister of Umberto II of Italy, Giovanna of Italy, and Maria Francesca of Savoy. As a member of the Italian royal family, she was related to other European monarchs, including Haakon VII of Norway and Christian X of Denmark. Her family connections also extended to the House of Bourbon-Parma and the House of Habsburg.

● Early Life

Princess Mafalda of Savoy was born in Rome, Italy, and spent her early years at the Quirinal Palace. She was educated at home, receiving instruction in subjects such as Italian, French, and music. Her siblings included Umberto II of Italy, who would later become the last King of Italy, and Giovanna of Italy, who married Boris III of Bulgaria. The family often spent their summers at the Borghese Villa or the Royal Palace of Naples. As a member of the Italian royal family, she was also connected to other European royal families, including the House of Windsor and the House of Romanov.

● Marriage and Issue

In 1925, Princess Mafalda of Savoy married Philipp of Hesse, a member of the House of Hesse. The couple had four children: Maurice of Hesse, Heinrich of Hesse, Otto of Hesse, and Elisabeth of Hesse. Her husband was a cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and a nephew of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The family lived in Germany and Italy, and were connected to other European royal families, including the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the House of Oldenburg. Princess Mafalda's marriage also brought her into contact with other notable figures, including Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

● World War II and Death

During World War II, Princess Mafalda of Savoy's husband, Philipp of Hesse, was a member of the Nazi Party and served as a Luftwaffe officer. Princess Mafalda herself was not a supporter of the Nazi regime and was known to have helped Jewish people escape from Italy. In 1943, she was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned in Buchenwald concentration camp. She died in 1944 at the Buchenwald concentration camp due to injuries sustained during an Allied bombing raid. Her death was a tragic loss for her family, including her father, Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, and her brother, Umberto II of Italy. Other notable figures who died during World War II include Anne Frank, Sophie Scholl, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

● Ancestry

Princess Mafalda of Savoy was a member of the House of Savoy and descended from a long line of Italian monarchs, including Victor Emmanuel II of Italy and Charles Felix of Sardinia. Her mother, Elena of Montenegro, was a member of the House of Petrović-Njegoš and a descendant of Nicholas I of Montenegro. Princess Mafalda's ancestry also included connections to other European royal families, such as the House of Bourbon and the House of Habsburg. Her family tree includes notable figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Francis Joseph I of Austria, and Alexander II of Russia. Other relatives of Princess Mafalda include Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta, Aimone, 4th Duke of Aosta, and Tomislav of Yugoslavia. Category:House of Savoy