Jack Tunstall
Mussolini comes to power, October 1922
Since September 1922, rumours of an imminent fascist march on Rome had been circulating. This followed a general surge of support for the fascist movement after the taking over of local government and dispersing of socialist councils by the fascists during the summer. Liberal politicians had been giving serious consideration to the incorporation of Mussolini into a new government, but Mussolini had rejected this, stating that he would assume the position of Prime Minister or not be a part of government at all. On the 16th of October, Mussolini and other leading fascists agreed to stage an insurrection. On the 24th, a fascist congress decided to organise a march on Rome with the intention of seizing power. Fascist squads were to take over key buildings and areas in north and central Italy, and others were to assemble on the 27th outside of Rome, to march into the city the following day. Mussolini made it abundantly clear that the fascists would either be offered control of the country or take it by force.
Mussolini was initially doubtful with regards to the march, and hoped that he might be appointed through peaceful, legal means. These fears were countered however by the need to retain the support of the more aggressive fascist element within the movement and the idea that the threat of a fascist march might intimidate the king into inviting him to form a government. The influence of the more militant fascists should not be under estimated when looking at how the fascists conducted themselves. Mussolini needed the support of these extremists in order to sustain the movement and assume power. This gamble did pay off. Although the planned march did suffer from setbacks, the advance of the fascists was fearfully reported to Rome by those officials who had witnessed it. Only 10,000 of the planned 50,000 fascists arrived at the designated points outside of Rome, and were under equipped as they began to seize control of public buildings. Furthermore, they were under secret orders not to clash with the army, and so posed less of a threat than had been assumed. The fact that they did not seem to be fully prepared for the planned march was of little consequence in terms of the desired effects of the manoeuvre, however. The government, which has thus far declined to take decisive action against the fascist threat, decided to disband. The Prime Minister, Facta, who had stayed on at special request, asked for the declaration of martial law in order to allow for the use of force to put down the fascist threat. The King initially accepted this demand, and martial law was declared. He had overestimated the fascists, as had many members of the political elite.