After the end of World War I in 1918, the Habsburgs were deposed and the former empire became home to the states of Austria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia whilst other parts were annexed to or joined the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Italy, Romania and a reconstituted independent Poland. Charles and Zita left for exile in Switzerland and after the failure of attempts to restore royal rule in Hungary, were subsequently removed from that country by the Allies to Madeira, where Charles died in 1922. After her husband's death, Zita and her son Otto served as symbols of unity for the exiled dynasty. A devout Catholic, she raised a large family after being widowed at the age of 29, and never remarried.