A Duel of the Duce

One day in October 1921, Benito Mussolini is still only one Congressman among many. He has strong contrasts with Francesco Ciccotti Scozzese, a former comrade of the Socialist party and a former friend of him. Ciccotti was secretary of the Labronica Chamber of Labor in 1902. The two have constant fights and quarrels, Mussolini defines Ciccotti — already named “Cagoia” by D’Annunzio — “filthy basilisk”. They decide for a forbidden duel.

The negotiations are very long, all the police headquarters in Italy are mobilizing to prevent the clash. The two begin the conflict in Milan, then run away, chased by the police, looking for a quiet place where they can challenge each other. One of the pursuing cars, near Piacenza, has an accident and ends up against a hay cart. The pilot of Mussolini’s car is the reckless Aldo Finzi, who participated with D’Annunzio in the flight over Vienna. They roam the cities of Emilia and Tuscany in search of a place to summon Ciccotti. They end up in Antignano, in the Villa Perti, which has now disappeared.

The challenge takes place on the ground floor, in the hall, Mussolini’s godparents are Colonel Basso and the Congressman Finzi. At the fourteenth assault Ciccotti goes into trouble, has a respiratory crisis. He is made to lie on the bed, the doctors give him an injection of camphor oil, then declare heart failure and prevent the duel from continuing. Mussolini gets angry, thinks of a stratagem by Ciccotti to escape the battle.

He has a wound in his arm and the young Sicilian Elvira, a relative of Ciccotti’s godfather (Cesare Guglielmo Pini from Livorno) treats him. “Wounded”, says Mussolini, looking at her intently, “but treated by a beautiful nurse”, and gives her his sword.

The police surprise them.