First marshal of the empire
First Marshal of the Empire (Italian: Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero) was a military rank established by the Italian parliament on March 30, 1938. The highest rank in the Italian military, it was only granted to King Victor Emmanuel III and Duce Benito Mussolini. The rank was abolished following World War II.
First Marshal of the Empire | |
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![]() First Marshal of the Empire sleeve rank insignia. | |
Country | ![]() |
Rank | Six-star (unofficial) |
NATO rank code | OF-11 |
Non-NATO rank | O-12 |
Formation | 2 April 1938 |
Abolished | 1945 |
Next lower rank | Marshal of Italy |
![](../I/Messe_Mussolini.jpg.webp)
Mussolini (right) in 1940; his "First Marshal of the Empire" insignia is visible at the end of his sleeve.
Mussolini's decision to create for himself and the King a new military rank created a crisis between himself and Victor Emmanuel III. For the first time in the history of the House of Savoy, the Prime Minister of Italy bore a rank equal with that of the head of the royal house giving him a mortgage on the high command of the Italian armed forces, a power of the King under the provisions of Statuto Albertino.
Sources
- Montanelli, Cervi Storia d'Italia 1935/1943
See also
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