Il Duce

Duce of Fascism Duce del Fascismo
Standard of the Duce
Benito Mussolini
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Palazzo Chigi (1925–1929) Palazzo Venezia (1929–1943)
Appointer	Grand Council of Fascism
Precursor	Himself (as Prime Minister)
Formation	24 December 1925
First holder	Benito Mussolini
Final holder	Benito Mussolini
Abolished	25 July 1943
Succession	Pietro Badoglio (as Prime Minister) Himself (as Duce of the RSI, as claimed by the RSI)

This article is part of a series about Benito Mussolini

Political views Duce of Fascism Fascist Manifesto Italian Fascism Spazio vitale Economic policies Racist policies Fascist Propaganda Model of masculinity Parties Italian Socialist Party (1901–1914) Italian Fasci of Combat (1919–1921) National Fascist Party (1921–1943) Republican Fascist Party (1943–1945) Elections 1924 1929 1934 Historical events March on Rome Mussolini Cabinet Corfu incident Murder of Giacomo Matteotti Aventine Secession Pacification of Libya Second Italo-Abyssinian War Foundation of the Empire Spanish Civil War Invasion of Albania Rome-Berlin Axis Pact of Steel World War II 25 Luglio Italian Social Republic Italian Civil War Death

Duce (Italian pronunciation: [ˈduːtʃe], leader) is an Italian title, derived from the Latin word dux, and cognate with duke. National Fascist Party leader Benito Mussolini was identified by Fascists as Il Duce ("The Leader") of the movement. In 1925 it became a reference to the dictatorial position of Sua 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"). Mussolini held this title together with that of President of the Council of Ministers: this was the constitutional position which entitled him to rule Italy on behalf of the King 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 the Italian Empire on behalf of the King in 1936 following Italy's victory in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The position was held by Mussolini until 1943, when he was removed from office by the King and the position of "Duce" was dismantled, while Marshal Pietro Badoglio was appointed Presidente del Consiglio.

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