Dino Perrone Compagni
Encyclopedia
Marquis Dino Perrone Compagni (born 22 October 1879 in Florence
- died 5 January 1950 in Florence) was a leading figure in the early years of Italian fascism
.
Perrone Compagni joined the Italian Army
at an early age and was a career soldier. However after reaching the rank of lieutenant he was demoted to private during the First World War for incompetence. His first political activity was in the Association Italia e Vittorio Emanuele, a minor liberal
group before in November 1920 he switched to the fascists
, becoming political secretary in Florence. Given his noble background Perrone Compagni came to represent the conservative
wing of fascism that looked out for the interests of landowners and magnates in opposition to the more proletarian wing that followed the rough and ready leadership of the likes of Tullio Tamburini
.
Perrone Compagni became an important figure as Italy
stood on the brink of takeover by Benito Mussolini
when he was appointed one of the four commandants-general of the fascist squads. His importance was emphasised in the March on Rome
when he commanded the Tuscan
contingent of the fascist squadrons. Under Mussolini's government Perrone Compagni enjoyed wide power, particularly in Tuscany where he was effective head of the fascist machine. Such was his power in the region that he was given the nickname of 'Grand Duke' in Tuscany. His high profile made him a target for anti-fascists however and he was wounded in an ambush in Perugia
not long after the takeover.
He would go on to serve as prefetto of Reggio Emilia
from December 1926 to January 1930 before being appointed a Minister of State in 1932. In April 1934 he was appointed to the Italian Senate
and in 1938 he secured the expulsion of his rival Carlo Scorza
from that body. This was to be his last action of note as he disappeared into obscurity during the Second World War and took no role in post-war politics.
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
- died 5 January 1950 in Florence) was a leading figure in the early years of Italian fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
.
Perrone Compagni joined the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
at an early age and was a career soldier. However after reaching the rank of lieutenant he was demoted to private during the First World War for incompetence. His first political activity was in the Association Italia e Vittorio Emanuele, a minor liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
group before in November 1920 he switched to the fascists
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, becoming political secretary in Florence. Given his noble background Perrone Compagni came to represent the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
wing of fascism that looked out for the interests of landowners and magnates in opposition to the more proletarian wing that followed the rough and ready leadership of the likes of Tullio Tamburini
Tullio Tamburini
Tullio Tamburini was an Italian soldier, adventurer and fascist official.Born in Prato, Tamburini had been a schoolteacher in Florence but was sacked from his job. He then made his way as a petty criminal before serving in the Italian Army during the First World War without distinction...
.
Perrone Compagni became an important figure as Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
stood on the brink of takeover by Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
when he was appointed one of the four commandants-general of the fascist squads. His importance was emphasised in the March on Rome
March on Rome
The March on Rome was a march by which Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party came to power in the Kingdom of Italy...
when he commanded the Tuscan
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
contingent of the fascist squadrons. Under Mussolini's government Perrone Compagni enjoyed wide power, particularly in Tuscany where he was effective head of the fascist machine. Such was his power in the region that he was given the nickname of 'Grand Duke' in Tuscany. His high profile made him a target for anti-fascists however and he was wounded in an ambush in Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
not long after the takeover.
He would go on to serve as prefetto of Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
from December 1926 to January 1930 before being appointed a Minister of State in 1932. In April 1934 he was appointed to the Italian Senate
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
and in 1938 he secured the expulsion of his rival Carlo Scorza
Carlo Scorza
Carlo Scorza was a prominent member of the National Fascist Party of Italy during World War II. He built his reputation in the Fascist paramilitary group known as the Blackshirts, and later rose to the position of party secretary, second only to Benito Mussolini in authority over the wartime...
from that body. This was to be his last action of note as he disappeared into obscurity during the Second World War and took no role in post-war politics.