March on Rome

March on Rome
Part of Civil unrest in Italy

Benito Mussolini and his Blackshirts during the March
Date28–31 October 1922
Location
ActionMussolini's Blackshirts conquered strategic points across the country and gathered outside Rome. King Victor Emmanuel III refused to declare a state of emergency and transferred power to the Fascists.
Result
  • Fascist coup d'état successful
  • Mussolini formed a new government
  • Belligerents

    Kingdom of Italy Italian Government

    National Fascist Party

    Commanders and leaders
    Kingdom of Italy Victor Emmanuel III
    Kingdom of Italy Luigi Facta
    Kingdom of Italy Marcello Soleri
    Kingdom of Italy Emanuele Pugliese
    Benito Mussolini
    Emilio De Bono
    Italo Balbo
    Cesare Maria De Vecchi
    Michele Bianchi
    Political support
    Kingdom of Italy Liberals
    Socialists
    Populars
    Communists
    Fascists
    Nationalists

    The March on Rome (Italian: Marcia su Roma) was an organized mass demonstration 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 a march 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.[1][2]

    1. ^ Lyttelton, Adrian (2004). The seizure of power: fascism in Italy 1919–1929. Totalitarian movements and political religions (Rev. ed.). London; New York: Routledge. pp. 75–77. ISBN 978-0-415-55394-0.
    2. ^ "March on Rome". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-07-25.