Abdication of Victor Emmanuel IV

On 1 October 2004, Victor Emmanuel IV, the reigning King of Italy, announced his abdication from the throne in a televised speech from the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy. The abdication, only the second in modern Italian history after that of Victor Emmanuel III's in 1946, came about amidst increasing criticism towards the king for his perceived anti-Semitism after the monarch claimed during a 2003 interview that anti-Semitic laws passed under the regime of the late Italian dictator Benito Mussolini were "not that terrible", sparking much outcry and condemnation, especially from Italian Jewish groups.

Officially taking into effect on 11:15 a.m., the abdication brought an end to Victor Emmanuel IV's 21-year-long reign which, in turn, is succeeded by the new reign of his only child and heir who subsequently ascended to the throne as King Emanuele. Meanwhile, the former was allowed to retain his current kingship title albeit as "King Emeritus of Italy".