Duce

{{Short description|Italian title}}

{{About|Italian title|the Canadian television series|Il Duce Canadese{{!}}Il Duce Canadese}}

{{Other uses}}

{{Italics title}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = Head

| body = Government, Leader of Fascism and Founder of the Empire

| native_name = {{native name|it|Capo del Governo, Duce del Fascismo e Fondatore dell'Impero}}

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| flag = Flag of Mussolini as Capo del governo of Fascist Italy.svg

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| flagcaption = Standard of the Duce

| image = Mussolini mezzobusto.jpg

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| imagecaption = Benito Mussolini
23 March 1919 – 28 April 1945

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| residence = Palazzo Chigi
{{small|(1925–1929)}}
Palazzo Venezia
{{small|(1929–1943)}}
Villa Torlonia
{{small|(1925–1943)}}

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| appointer = Grand Council of Fascism

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| precursor = Prime Minister

| formation = 23 March 1919

| first = Benito Mussolini

| last = Benito Mussolini

| abolished = 28 April 1945

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}}

{{lang|it|Duce}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|uː|tʃ|eɪ}} {{respell|DOO|chay}}, {{IPAc-it|lang|ˈ|d|u|ː|c|e}}) is an Italian title, derived from the Latin word {{lang|la|dux}}, 'leader', and a cognate of duke. National Fascist Party leader Benito Mussolini was identified by Fascists as {{lang|it|Il Duce}} ('The Leader') of the movement since the birth of the {{lang|it|Fasci Italiani di Combattimento}} in 1919. In 1925 it became a reference to the dictatorial position of {{lang|it|Sua Eccellenza Benito Mussolini, Capo del Governo, Duce del Fascismo e Fondatore dell'Impero}} ('His Excellency Benito Mussolini, Head of Government, Leader of Fascism and Founder of the Empire').Image Description: Propaganda poster of Benito Mussolini, with caption "His Excellency Benito Mussolini, Head of Government, Leader of Fascism, and Founder of the Empire ...". Mussolini held this title together with that of President of the Council of Ministers: this was the constitutional position which entitled him to rule Italy on behalf of the king of Italy. Founder of the Empire was added for the exclusive use by Mussolini in recognition of his founding of an official legal entity of the Italian Empire on behalf of the king in 1936 following Italy's victory in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The position was held by Mussolini until 1943, when he was removed from office by the king and the position of {{lang|it|Duce}} was discontinued, while Marshal Pietro Badoglio was appointed {{lang|it|Presidente del Consiglio}}.

This position was the model which other fascist leaders adopted, such as the position of {{lang|de|Führer}} by Adolf Hitler and {{lang|es|Caudillo}} by Francisco Franco. In September 1943, Mussolini styled himself as the "Duce of the Italian Social Republic" ({{langx|it|Duce della Repubblica Sociale Italiana}}), and held the position until the collapse of the Italian Social Republic and his execution in April 1945.Quartermaine, L. (2000). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Vwx6hN8zyIsC&q=%22italian+social+republic%22 Mussolini's Last Republic: Propaganda and Politics in the Italian Social Republic]. p. 21.