Abruzzi, Luigi Amedeo, duca degli [key], 1873–1933, Italian explorer and mountain climber; cousin of Victor Emmanuel III. He led (1897) the first ascent of Mt. St. Elias in Alaska. His polar expedition (1899–1900) reached a point farther north than Nansen's record. He explored (1906) the Ruwenzori range in Africa and in an attempt on K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) in the Himalayas set (1909) a world record for altitude (24,600 ft). The southeast ridge of the peak is named in his honor. After 1919 he explored and tried to establish colonies in East Africa.
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