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= The Battle of Rome (1922) =

The Battle of Rome (November 2nd 1922) was one of the worst cases of civil discord in Italy up to that date. A culmination of the National Fascist Party's March on Rome, the Battle of Rome was fought by the Blackshirts and recently incorporated Blueshirts of the combined National Fascist Party against the ex-Arditi forces of Gabriele D'Annunzio.

The Blackshirt and Blueshirt forces were estimated at approximately 22,000 men during the March on Rome. Meanwhile D'Annunzio's forces are estimated at anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 in attendance to his rally. Both side's forces were comprised in large parts by ex-Italian army soldiers, and many were armed with everything from canes to service rifles. The local police and military forces at the rally were very minimal. Less then 100 policemen in attendance despite there being thousands of civilians at the event. Luigi Facta had assumed that De Bono and his Quadrumvirs would halt or disband before Rome and that extra forces were not necessary. Documents uncovered in 1973 seem to point to a cabal of Italian Army generals aligned with De Bono convincing Facta that this would be true, when in reality De Bono had no such intentions to stop before Rome.

When De Bono and his Quadrumvirs, along with the first ranks of the march, arrived at Rome they found the rally in full swing. They were apparently stopped by an Arditi officer, later identified as Capitano Scevola Caiazzo, at the edges of the rally. While not confirmed by anyone on Annunzio's side, the memoirs of De Bono and the present Quadrumvirs report that Caiazzo saluted De Bono. The retired general then returned the salute before asking the officer to make way. Caiazzo declined and insisted that the marchers should wait until the rally had finished before continuing. De Bono then rephrased it as an order but Caiazzo still refused.

Soon more Arditi started to form up behind their officer, while more Blackshirts and Blueshirts reached the hold up as the march condensed. Tensions began to flare, as shouting and threats were flung by both sides, until someone fired. Both sides claimed the other fired first. Almost immediately after the shot was fired violence broke out along the growing line. Rifle fire from Arditi forces struck De Bono in the abdomen causing a significant wound for the older man, though he managed to maintain his feet for a few minutes longer before needing to be taken from the field for treatment by his followers. During the opening salvos Caiazzo was shot as well. The chest wound he suffered was instantly fatal. Around the wounded leaders the significantly larger force of Blackshirts mobbed the Arditi and within minutes the Arditi were in retreat and the rally broken up. Blackshirts, driven on by Roberto Farinacci, chased the Arditi throughout the streets in revenge for their fallen comrades. More right wing blackshirts driven by their own Ras hunted for D'Annunzio himself. Despite the pursuit the rally leader escaped Rome with the help of some of his loyal forces.

In the immediate aftermath ten civilians, thirty-three Blackshirts and Blueshirts, and forty-one Arditi were killed. As well over seven hundred from all sides were wounded. Over the following days another fifty two people from all sides died due to their wounds. By the next day De Bono would recover from his wound enough to walk again, and even gave a speech following his elevation to Prime Minister. Following the event he would return to the hospital for another few days, though De Bono would never fully recover and would note in his journals some lingering pain long after the event.