Emilio De Bono facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maresciallo d'Italia
Emilio De Bono
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De Bono in 1937
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| Minister of the Colonies | |
| In office 12 September 1929 – 17 January 1935 |
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| Monarch | Victor Emmanuel III |
| Preceded by | Benito Mussolini (act.) |
| Succeeded by | Benito Mussolini (act.) |
| Governor of Tripolitania | |
| In office 3 July 1925 – 18 December 1928 |
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| Preceded by | Giuseppe Volpi |
| Succeeded by | Pietro Badoglio |
| Governor of Eritrea | |
| In office 18 January 1935 – 22 November 1935 |
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| Preceded by | Ottone Gabeli (act.) |
| Succeeded by | Pietro Badoglio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 March 1866 Cassano d'Adda, Lombardia, Italy |
| Died | 11 January 1944 (aged 77) Verona, Veneto, Italian Social Republic |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Political party | National Fascist Party |
| Alma mater | Scuola Militare Teulié Military Academy of Modena |
| Cabinet | Mussolini |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Italy (1915–1943) |
| Branch/service |  Royal Italian Army |
| Years of service | 1884–1920; 1935–1943 |
| Rank | Marshal of Italy |
| Commands | Blackshirts |
| Battles/wars | Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887–1889 Italo-Turkish War World War I Second Italo-Ethiopian War World War II |
Emilio De Bono (born March 19, 1866 – died January 11, 1944) was an important Italian general and a leading figure in the National Fascist Party. He held the high military rank of Marshal of Italy. De Bono took part in several wars, including the Italo-Turkish War, World War I, and the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. He was also a member of the Fascist Grand Council, a key political group during the Fascist era in Italy.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Emilio De Bono was born in Cassano d'Adda, Italy. His family had a long history in the region. In 1884, he joined the Royal Italian Army as a young officer. He quickly moved up through the ranks.
De Bono fought in the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887–1889. By 1911, when the Italo-Turkish War began, he was already part of the General Staff, which helps plan military operations. He was recognized for his bravery during this war.
World War I Service
During World War I, De Bono showed great skill as a military leader. He fought against Austria-Hungary on the Karst Plateau in 1915. He also helped capture the city of Gorizia in 1916. Later, he played a key role in the Second Battle of the Piave River and the Battle of Monte Grappa in 1918. He even wrote a popular patriotic song called Monte Grappa tu sei la mia patria (meaning "Mount Grappa, you are my Fatherland"). After the war, in 1920, he left the army with the rank of Major General.
Joining the Fascist Movement
In the early 1920s, Emilio De Bono became involved in politics. He helped create the National Fascist Party, which was led by Benito Mussolini.
The March on Rome
In 1922, De Bono was one of the four main leaders, known as the Quadrumvirs, who organized the March on Rome. This event was a large demonstration that helped the Fascist Party take control of Italy. It marked the beginning of the Fascist government.
After the March on Rome, De Bono held important positions. He became the Chief of Police and the Commander of the Fascist Militia. In 1925, he faced a trial related to a political event from 1924. However, he was found not guilty.
Later that year, De Bono was made governor of Tripolitania, a region in Libya that was an Italian colony. During his time there, he used very harsh methods to control the local population. These methods caused a lot of suffering for many thousands of civilians.
In 1929, De Bono was appointed Minister of Colonial Affairs. In this role, he oversaw Italy's colonies. In 1932, he visited Eritrea with King Victor Emmanuel III.
Leading the Invasion of Ethiopia
In November 1932, Benito Mussolini asked De Bono to create a plan for invading Ethiopia. De Bono's plan suggested a slow and careful approach. It involved using a smaller force to gradually move into Ethiopia from Eritrea, setting up strong bases along the way. He believed this would be a safe and easy way to conquer the country.
However, Mussolini also involved the Italian Army in planning. The Army developed a much larger plan, requiring many more soldiers. By 1934, Mussolini combined these ideas into a plan for a full-scale war.
Commander in Ethiopia
In 1935, De Bono became the Supreme Commander of the Italian forces invading Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Mussolini chose him because he wanted the victory to be seen as a success for the Fascist Party. De Bono led the invasion from Italian-held Eritrea, commanding a large force of nine army divisions.
On October 3, De Bono's troops crossed into Ethiopia. On October 6, they captured the city of Adowa. This was an important victory because it avenged a humiliating Italian defeat there in 1896. Soon after, De Bono entered the historic city of Axum on a white horse.
Despite these early successes, De Bono's advance slowed down. Mussolini became impatient with the slow progress. On November 16, De Bono was promoted to Marshal of Italy. However, in December, Mussolini removed him from command. His mission was declared "accomplished" with the capture of Mek'ele five weeks earlier. Marshal Pietro Badoglio took his place, and De Bono was given a new role as Inspector of Overseas Troops.
Later Life and World War II
In 1940, De Bono was in charge of a defense group in Sicily. He did not agree with Italy joining World War II. He wrote a report criticizing the poor condition of the troops in Sicily. Despite his concerns, he kept a low profile. In 1942, he was appointed Minister of State.
In July 1943, during a meeting of the Grand Council of Fascism, De Bono voted to remove Benito Mussolini from power. This vote led to the King ordering Mussolini's arrest.
Later in 1943, Mussolini was rescued by Nazi Germany and set up a new government in Northern Italy called the Italian Social Republic. Mussolini then had De Bono and others who had voted against him arrested. They were put on trial for treason in Verona. This event became known as the "Verona trial".
On January 11, 1944, Emilio De Bono, who was 77 years old, was executed by a firing squad in Verona. He was shot along with several other important figures, including Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini's son-in-law.
Personal Life
Emilio De Bono had five siblings: Edmondo, Agostino, Constanza, Gerardo, and Marella. He did not have any children of his own.
Honours
- Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (1937)
- Knight Grand Cross with the Grand Cordon of the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy
- Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy (1936)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1923)
- Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy (1919)
See also
In Spanish: Emilio de Bono para niños
- Second Italian-Abyssian War
- Tripoli Grand Prix
