| Head of Government, Leader of Fascism and Founder of the Empire | |
|---|---|
| Capo del Governo, Duce del Fascismo e Fondatore dell'Impero (Italian) | |
 | |
| Residence | Palazzo Chigi (1925–1929) Palazzo Venezia (1929–1943) Villa Torlonia (1925–1943) |
| Appointer | Grand Council of Fascism |
| Precursor | Prime Minister |
| Formation | 23 March 1919 |
| First holder | Benito Mussolini |
| Final holder | Benito Mussolini |
| Abolished | 28 April 1945 |
Duce (/ˈduːtʃeɪ/DOO-chay,Italian: [ˈduːt͡ʃe]) is anItalian title, derived from theLatin worddux, 'leader', and acognate ofduke.National Fascist Party leaderBenito Mussolini was identified by Fascists asIl Duce ('The Leader') of the movement since the birth of theFasci Italiani di Combattimento in 1919. In 1925 it became a reference to thedictatorial position ofSua Eccellenza Benito Mussolini, Capo del Governo, Duce del Fascismo e Fondatore dell'Impero ('His Excellency Benito Mussolini, Head of Government, Leader of Fascism and Founder of the Empire').[1] Mussolini held this title together with that ofPresident of the Council of Ministers: this was the constitutional position which entitled him to rule Italy on behalf of theking of Italy.Founder of the Empire was added for the exclusive use by Mussolini in recognition of his founding of an official legal entity of theItalian Empire on behalf of the king in 1936 following Italy's victory in theSecond Italo-Ethiopian War. The position was held by Mussolini until 1943, when he wasremoved from office by the king and the position ofDuce was discontinued, whileMarshalPietro Badoglio was appointedPresidente del Consiglio.
This position was the model which otherfascist leaders adopted, such as the position ofFührer byAdolf Hitler andCaudillo byFrancisco Franco. In September 1943, Mussolini styled himself as the "Duce of theItalian Social Republic" (Italian:Duce della Repubblica Sociale Italiana), and held the position until thecollapse of the Italian Social Republic andhis execution in April 1945.[2]
The title was used outside its traditional noble sense in some of the publications praisingGiuseppe Garibaldi during theItalian unification in 1860, although not taken up officially by Garibaldi himself.[3]
Duce Supremo (lit. 'Supreme Leader') was more formally used byVictor Emmanuel III in 1915, during World War I, referring to his role as the commander in chief of the armed forces. The term was also used byGabriele d'Annunzio asdictator of the self-proclaimedItalian Regency of Carnaro in 1920, and most significantly byItalian fascist dictatorBenito Mussolini. The first record of the term being used in reference to Mussolini dates to a banquet held in his honor inForlì in 1912, celebrating his new position as editor-in-chief ofAvanti!.[4]
Because the titleIl Duce has become associated withfascism, it is no longer in common use other than in reference to Mussolini. Because of modernanti-fascist sentiment, Italian speakers in general now use other words for leader, mainly including the English loanword.Duce survives as anantonomasia for Mussolini.
Mussolini intended that theGrand Council of Fascism would choose a successor from a list of three men chosen by him, and submit the name for approval by the king. As of 1940, he may have been preparing his son-in-lawGaleazzo Ciano for the role.[5]
| Portrait | Duce (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Tenure | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) | 23 March 1919 | 9 November 1921 | 26 years, 33 days | Italian Fasces of Combat | |
| 9 November 1921 | 25 July 1943 | National Fascist Party | ||||
| 23 September 1943 | 28 April 1945 † | Republican Fascist Party | ||||
The dictionary definition ofduce at Wiktionary
