Amedeo, 5th Duke of Aosta
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Prince Amedeo Umberto Constantino Giorgio Paolo Elena Maria Fiorenzo of Savoy, (born 27 September 1943) is one of those who claim to the headship of the House of Savoy, the family which ruled Italy from 1861 to 1946. Until July 7, 2006 Amedeo was styled Duke of Aosta; on that date he declared himself Duke of Savoy.
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[edit] Birth and early life
Amedeo was born at Villa della Cisterna in Florence, the only child of Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Spoleto, later 4th Duke of Aosta, and of Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark.
Only three weeks before Amedeo's birth, Italy had surrendered to the Allies. Italy's former ally Germany thereupon launched a military operation to occupy Italy. The infant Amedeo was arrested by the Nazis along with his mother, aunt, and two cousins, and sent to an internment camp in Austria.
When Amedeo was only four years old, his father died and he succeeded as Duke of Aosta, Prince della Cisterna e di Belriguardo, Marquess di Voghera, and Count di Ponderano.
Amedeo studied at the Collegio Navale Morosini in Venice and in England. He then attended the Naval Academy in Livorno from which he graduated as an officer in the Italian Navy.
[edit] Marriage and family
On 22 July 1964 Amedeo married Princess Claude Marie Agnès Catherine of Orléans (b. December 11, 1943) in Sintra, Portugal. She was the ninth child and fifth daughter of Henri, comte de Paris, Orléanist claimant to the French throne, and of Princess Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza. Amedeo and Claude had three children:
- Princess Bianca Irene Olga Elena Isabella of Savoy (b. 2 April 1966) married Giberto Carbonello Tiberto Maria, Count Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga in 1988 and had issue:
- Viola Moreschina Nushi Adec Nicoletta Maria Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga (b. 31 May 1991)
- Vera Clementina Verde Aimone Elena Maria Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga (b. 18 August 1993)
- Mafalda Violante Giovanna Olga Maria Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga (b. 27 December 1997)
- Maddalena Smeralda Brandolina Maria Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga (b. 24 April 2000)
- Leonardo Amedeo Moreschino Sai Maria Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga (b. 5 October 2001)
- Prince Aimone Umberto Emanuele Filiberto Luigi Amedeo Elena Maria Fiorenzo, Duke of Apulia (b. 13 October 1967); Aimone is engaged to Princess Olga Isabella of Greece, daughter of Prince Michael of Greece.
- Princess Mafalda Giovanna Shams Maria Fiorenza Isabella of Savoy (b. 20 September 1969) married firstly Alessandro Ruffo di Calabria; Mafalda married secondly Baron Francesco Ferrante Carlo Napoleone Lombardo di San Chirico (b. 1968) and had issue:
Amedeo and Claude officially separated from each other July 20, 1976. They received a civil divorce April 26, 1982, and an ecclesiastical annulment from the Roman Rota January 8, 1987.
On 30 March 1987 Amedeo married Donna Silvia Paternò di Spedalotto (b. 31 December 1953) in the chapel of Villa Spedalotto in Bagheria, Sicily. She is the daughter of Don Vincenzo Paternò, Marchese di Reggiovanni e di Rosanna Bellardo, and of Rosanna Bellardo. Amedeo and Silvia have no children.
Amedeo has an illegitimate son by Nerina Corsini, the wife of Enrico Incisa della Rochetta: Pietro Incisa della Rochetta (born November 30, 1967). He has an illegitimate daughter by Kyara van Ellinkhuizen: Ginevra Maria Gabriella van Ellinghuizen (born 19 March 2006). Ginevra has Down syndrome. Though before her birth Amedeo had stated that he would immediately recognize her as his child and provide for her welfare, he did not do so and instead asked for DNA testing to be performed. These tests have demonstrated that he is the father. [1]
[edit] Business activities
Amedeo and his wife Silvia live in the village of San Rocco near the town of Castiglion Fibbochi in Tuscany (about 15 kilometres northwest of Arezzo). He is involved in various agricultural activities including the production of wine marketed under the name Vini Savoia Aosta.
Since 1997 Amedeo has been president of the International Foundation Pro Herbario Mediterraneo. From 2003 to 2006 he was president of the committee responsible for the nature reserve on the island of Vivara.
[edit] Dynastic activities
On July 7, 2006 Amedeo declared himself to be the head of the House of Savoy and Duke of Savoy, claiming that his cousin Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples had lost his dynastic rights when he married without the legally required permission of King Umberto II in 1971. The President of the Council of the Senators of the Kingdom Aldo Alessandro Mola published a declaration in favour of Amedeo's claim; in fact only nine members of the 62 member council voted in support of the declaration. Amedeo has also received the support of Vittorio Emmanuele's sister Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy.
Amedeo has been criticized by other Italian monarchists who continue to support Vittorio Emanuele. Sergio Pellecchi, President of the Giunta of the Chivalric Orders of the House of Savoy, has stated that the Council of the Senators of the Kingdom was dissolved in 2002 and that it never had any authority in matters of the succession. Eugenio Armando Dondero, spokesman for the Coordinamento Monarchico Italiano, has asked why Amedeo did not claim to be head of the House of Savoy in 1983 when King Umberto II died. But others, including constitutional jurist Guido Locatello, declared the marriage of Vittorio Emanuele to be in violation of Savoy dynastic law years before scandal evoked any clamor for Amedeo to replace him. Additionally, Amedeo of Aosta's claims were strengthened when both Prince Vittorio Emanuelle and his son Prince Emanuelle Filberto recognized the Italian republic in order to be allowed to return to Italy in 2002, an act that was interpretted as an official renunciation of any claims either had on the throne of Italy.
Amedeo is a Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, a Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, and a Knight of Honor and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem. He is an honorary citizen of the towns of Marigliano, Pantelleria, and Abetone.
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| House of Savoy Born: 27 September 1943 |
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| Preceded by Amedeo, 4th Duke of Aosta |
Duke of Aosta | Incumbent Designated heir: Aimone, Duke of Apulia |
