Caesar's Guiding Hand: Antiquity and Control in Fascist Italy

Mussolini was known to use violence to exert his control over the Italian population from the 1920s to the 1940s. Mussolini also invoked the ancient past to create his ideology and fascist culture. However, the ancient past and control must intersect to an extent. This paper explores this intersection, namely how the ancient past was used to either inspire, indoctrinate, or intimidate the public. I inquire in what ways did Roman history influence Mussolini's thoughts and consolidation of power? How was the history of the Roman Empire presented and what does this reveal about the importance and prominence of antiquity reflected in modernity? I propose that control can be produced beyond the threat of physical violence and that the use of Roman history within the fascist regime can subconsciously control the masses. I now ask, where is antiquity most present in Mussolini's state? Where and how was control produced and used? Is there any overlap between this and the use of antiquity? I will evaluate these questions in three areas: Mussolini's speeches and how he used ancient rhetoric to inspire the masses during his rise to power, fascist textbooks and how they used ancient history to indoctrinate the youth, and finally the theatrical work Cesare and how it was used to educate the masses about the consequences of attempted tyrannicide. This paper will flow thematically and chronologically to best demonstrate how the use of antiquity evolves as Mussolini rises and consolidates power. These evaluations serve to demonstrate the abuse of antiquity for modern control. I want readers to understand how the past functions as a tool of indoctrination, how it can enhance political discourse, or how even the most mundane activities can be politicized through historical reference. The past is a neutral tool; it is up to the individual to decide how it will be used.