Pietro Badoglio’s Gladius
Official ceremonial sword awarded to Marshal Pietro Badoglio in honor of the conquest of Ethiopia and the establishment of the Imperio Fascista (Fascist Empire). A fascist cultural artifact of great artistic and historical significance, it was forged by swordsmith Mario Vitali in 1936 and takes the form of a Roman shortsword, or gladius, as were used by the legionaries of ancient Rome. Expertly crafted and brimming with fascist symbolism alongside various martial tributes, this ceremonial gladius celebrates the spirit of conquest as embodied by the Roman Empire, and marks a moment of significant national triumph in modern Italian history.
Several different materials constitute the sword’s make, including polished malachite, silver and gilded metal. The grip is fashioned from (possibly faux) ivory, its edges lined by laurels of gilded brass leaves. The sword’s crossguard is formed of two golden eagle heads that echo the Aurelian majesty of Rome, while in the center is a medallion bedecked on one side by a Roman fasces and the Royal Savoyard coat of arms on the other; an ornamentation that would prove prophetic in light of Badoglio’s later acts of treason as a result of his divided loyalties between the Party and King.
The blade is richly inscribed a host of illustrations, symbols and phrases. On one side is inscribed AL MARESCIALLO D’ITALIA PIETRO BADOGLIO (To the Marshal of Italy, Pietro Badoglio) and LA COLONIA ERITREA (The Colony of Eritrea) alongside the winged goddess of victory, Victoria, depicted in contemporary art deco fashion. The other side of the blade bears the text GUERRA ITALO-ETIOPICA ANNO XIV E.F. (Italo-Ethiopian War of the year [1936]) and VIRTUTE NON FORTUNA ([Victory through] Virtue over Fortune), with the Latin adage TENEO TE AFRICA in the middle. This phrase is attributed to Julius Caesar, and expresses Roman suzerainty over Africa and is revived here to celebrate the return of Roman civilization to Italy’s newly acquired African dominions.
Pietro Badoglio, to whom this gladius was gifted to, began his military career at the Royal Military Academy of Turin in 1888. He was reputed for his ruthless efficiency in crushing colonial insurgencies throughout Tripolitania & Cyrenaica (Libya), as well as for pioneering the use of mechanized columns and chemical warfare to devastating effect against his foes in Ethiopia. Marshal Badoglio’s command was invaluable in achieving the swift victory which Italy did in Ethiopia.
Following Italy’s entry alongside Germany in the Second World War, Marshal Badoglio would grow increasingly exasperated with repeated strategic blunders on part of the Duce Benito Mussolini. The invasion of Sicily served as a catalyst for the ousting of Mussolini by a Royalist government led by King Victor Emmanuel III, who would in turn appoint Marshal Pietro Badoglio as head of this new government, backed by Allied troops. As the new Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy, Badoglio ordered the imprisonment of Mussolini. A grueling civil war would ensue with the execution of Operation Axis, the rescue of Mussolini via the daring Gran Sasso Raid and the formation of the Italian Social Republic in northern Italy.
Pietro Badoglio is seen as a divisive figure in Italy, with historians commending his strategic military acumen, while others, especially hardline Republican Fascists, criticize his supposed disloyalty, viewing him as the very face of monarchist treachery. Regardless of his political faithfulness which would later falter, one cannot overlook his contributions towards bringing the light civilization and stability to deepest reaches of Africa through his uncompromising, iron-fisted attitude:
“Not a single insurgent will ever find peace again, neither he, nor his family, nor his clan, nor his heirs. I will destroy everything, the people and their property alike. May God enlighten you so that you may make the right choice…” – June 20th, 1929, warning issued by Marshal Badoglio to the head of the Islamic resistance in Libya
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Official ceremonial sword awarded to Marshal Pietro Badoglio in honor of the conquest of Ethiopia and the establishment of the Imperio Fascista (Fascist Empire). A fascist cultural artifact of great artistic and historical significance, it was forged by swordsmith Mario Vitali in 1936 and takes the form of a Roman shortsword, or gladius, as were used by the legionaries of ancient Rome. Expertly crafted and brimming with fascist symbolism alongside various martial tributes, this ceremonial gladius celebrates the spirit of conquest as embodied by the Roman Empire, and marks a moment of significant national triumph in modern Italian history.
Several different materials constitute the sword’s make, including polished malachite, silver and gilded metal. The grip is fashioned from (possibly faux) ivory, its edges lined by laurels of gilded brass leaves. The sword’s crossguard is formed of two golden eagle heads that echo the Aurelian majesty of Rome, while in the center is a medallion bedecked on one side by a Roman fasces and the Royal Savoyard coat of arms on the other; an ornamentation that would prove prophetic in light of Badoglio’s later acts of treason as a result of his divided loyalties between the Party and King.
The blade is richly inscribed a host of illustrations, symbols and phrases. On one side is inscribed AL MARESCIALLO D’ITALIA PIETRO BADOGLIO (To the Marshal of Italy, Pietro Badoglio) and LA COLONIA ERITREA (The Colony of Eritrea) alongside the winged goddess of victory, Victoria, depicted in contemporary art deco fashion. The other side of the blade bears the text GUERRA ITALO-ETIOPICA ANNO XIV E.F. (Italo-Ethiopian War of the year [1936]) and VIRTUTE NON FORTUNA ([Victory through] Virtue over Fortune), with the Latin adage TENEO TE AFRICA in the middle. This phrase is attributed to Julius Caesar, and expresses Roman suzerainty over Africa and is revived here to celebrate the return of Roman civilization to Italy’s newly acquired African dominions.
Pietro Badoglio, to whom this gladius was gifted to, began his military career at the Royal Military Academy of Turin in 1888. He was reputed for his ruthless efficiency in crushing colonial insurgencies throughout Tripolitania & Cyrenaica (Libya), as well as for pioneering the use of mechanized columns and chemical warfare to devastating effect against his foes in Ethiopia. Marshal Badoglio’s command was invaluable in achieving the swift victory which Italy did in Ethiopia.
Following Italy’s entry alongside Germany in the Second World War, Marshal Badoglio would grow increasingly exasperated with repeated strategic blunders on part of the Duce Benito Mussolini. The invasion of Sicily served as a catalyst for the ousting of Mussolini by a Royalist government led by King Victor Emmanuel III, who would in turn appoint Marshal Pietro Badoglio as head of this new government, backed by Allied troops. As the new Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy, Badoglio ordered the imprisonment of Mussolini. A grueling civil war would ensue with the execution of Operation Axis, the rescue of Mussolini via the daring Gran Sasso Raid and the formation of the Italian Social Republic in northern Italy.
Pietro Badoglio is seen as a divisive figure in Italy, with historians commending his strategic military acumen, while others, especially hardline Republican Fascists, criticize his supposed disloyalty, viewing him as the very face of monarchist treachery. Regardless of his political faithfulness which would later falter, one cannot overlook his contributions towards bringing the light civilization and stability to deepest reaches of Africa through his uncompromising, iron-fisted attitude:
“Not a single insurgent will ever find peace again, neither he, nor his family, nor his clan, nor his heirs. I will destroy everything, the people and their property alike. May God enlighten you so that you may make the right choice…” – June 20th, 1929, warning issued by Marshal Badoglio to the head of the Islamic resistance in Libya
