He was born in
Genoa, the eldest son of
Prince Amadeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta (second son of King
Vittorio Emanuele II) and his first wife Donna
Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo della Cisterna. In 1870, Amadeo was elected King of Spain, but abdicated and returned to Italy in 1873. Amadeo died in 1890, and Emanuele Filiberto succeeded as
Duke of Aosta. He began his career in the
Italian Army at
Naples, in 1905, as commander. During
World War I, he commanded the Italian Third Army, which gained the nickname of
Armata invitta ("undefeated army"). Following the war he was promoted to the rank of
Marshal of Italy by
Benito Mussolini in 1926. Prince Emanuele Filiberto died in 1931 at
Turin. In accordance and observance of his will, he was buried in the
military cemetery of Redipuglia, together with thousands of soldiers of the Third Army. Named after him were: • the
Duke of Aosta Bridge in
Rome, completed in 1942 • a bridge on the
Piave at
Jesolo, inaugurated in 1927 • a street in Rome • the
cruiser ''Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta'', which was given to the
Soviet Union after
World War II ==Family and children==