Mussolini's personal control of Fascist Italy faced limits from royal authority and the armed forces. Examples include a senator who continued to insult him publicly and army opposition after he gave himself a title equal to the king's. In this account, the king defused the resulting crisis to avoid bloodshed over the title. The preference for politically loyal senior officers is interpreted as an effort to obtain firmer control of the military. That interpretation distinguishes formal leadership of the regime from dependable obedience within every institution.
Notable Point · 7:32:25-7:33:42
Mussolini's incomplete control of Italy's armed forces
Public opposition, royal authority, and unreliable military loyalty limited Mussolini's control, helping explain his preference for politically dependable senior officers.