March on Rome
The March on Rome (Italian: Marcia su Roma) was an organized mass demonstration and a coup d'état in October 1922 which resulted in Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party (Partito Nazionale Fascista, PNF) ascending to power in the Kingdom of Italy. In late October 1922, Fascist Party leaders planned an insurrection to take place by marching on the capital. On 28 October, the fascist demonstrators and Blackshirt paramilitaries approached Rome; Prime Minister Luigi Facta wished to declare a state of siege, but this was overruled by King Victor Emmanuel III, who, fearing bloodshed, persuaded Facta to resign by threatening to abdicate. On 30 October 1922, the King appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister, thereby transferring political power to the fascists without armed conflict. On 31 October the fascist Blackshirts paraded in Rome, while Mussolini formed his coalition government.
| March on Rome | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Civil unrest in Italy | |||||||||
Benito Mussolini and his Blackshirts during the March | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Luigi Facta Antonio Salandra Paolino Taddei Marcello Soleri Giovanni Giolitti |
Benito Mussolini Emilio De Bono Italo Balbo C. M. De Vecchi Michele Bianchi | ||||||||
| Political support | |||||||||
|
Liberals Socialists Populars Communists |
Fascists Nationalists | ||||||||