The March on Rome

This chapter examines the historical significance and impact of the March on Rome, which brought Mussolini and the Fascists to power in Italy in 1922. It argues that while the March was long seen as a secondary event in Fascism’s rise, it was in fact a pivotal moment that transformed Italy’s political landscape and served as an influential model for authoritarian movements across Europe in the 1920s–1930s. In order to do so, the chapter analyses the March’s violent nature, it explores how the March represented the culmination of Fascist violence and territorial occupation in Italy, while making a deep impact internationally by inspiring similar actions in other countries. It examines how Fascist leaders carefully crafted narratives about the March for foreign consumption, emphasising its revolutionary yet orderly nature and arguing that the March’s success stemmed from its blend of revolutionary and conservative elements that appealed to various groups. The author contends that the March’s influence abroad has been underappreciated due to post-war reluctance to acknowledge Fascism’s former appeal. By re-examining the March’s significance, this chapter provides insight into the broader crisis of liberalism in interwar Europe and Fascism’s attractiveness as an alternative political model at the time.