What if Fascist Italy was even more into Rome?

I know that Mussolini fancied himself as building a new Roman emperor, especially after his conquests in East Africa, but were the Italian fascists really as big into the weird fetishizing of a mythical glorious past as much as the Nazis were with their conception of Germania and Nordic race theories? If not, how could they pretend to be even more Roman than they did IRL?
 
I know that Mussolini fancied himself as building a new Roman emperor, especially after his conquests in East Africa, but were the Italian fascists really as big into the weird fetishizing of a mythical glorious past as much as the Nazis were with their conception of Germania and Nordic race theories? If not, how could they pretend to be even more Roman than they did IRL?

Every year, 24 teenagers from the 13 12 districts will be given the honour of fighting in the hunger games, to remember their gladiator forefathers. They shall fight until their is only ONE winner.

May the odds be ever in your favour!

And whatever you do...

DON'T MENTION TIROL!
 

Insider

Banned
Perhaps the good POD could be if Evola would take liking of Mussolini. OTL he hated him, and despite his far-right philosophy, he considered himself antifascist.
 
I know that Mussolini fancied himself as building a new Roman emperor, especially after his conquests in East Africa, but were the Italian fascists really as big into the weird fetishizing of a mythical glorious past as much as the Nazis were with their conception of Germania and Nordic race theories? If not, how could they pretend to be even more Roman than they did IRL?

Same thing as I exposed here, just with Nasser. It highly depends on how cracy Mussolini and his fellows are - just remember that they have absolute power, and they can enforce almost everything; but the more crazy this "everything" becomes, the more high is the probability that fascist are removed from power quickly.

Nevertheless, let's use our imagination and think of a world in which Mussolini is convinced to be the new Augustus....

- Italian constitution is modeled on Roman principate. Mussolini becomes Princeps, the Great Fascist council becomes the Senate, the ministers become Consuls and Praetors, and so on.
- Italy stays Italy, but becomes part of a "Roman Empire" - the colonies are declared provinces of this Empire and receive Latin names.
- Mussolini rebuilds Rome restoring the old monuments and build new ones were none of these were
- Mussolini adopts a very hostile stance towards the Church and founds some Pagan warrior "orders" (the Italian version of the SS) worshiping Jupiter and Minerva
- Mussolini turns Italian economy into a commanded economy since everyone has to "work for the Empire"
 
Same thing as I exposed here, just with Nasser. It highly depends on how cracy Mussolini and his fellows are - just remember that they have absolute power, and they can enforce almost everything; but the more crazy this "everything" becomes, the more high is the probability that fascist are removed from power quickly
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Benny and co. never ever come near to achieve absolute power like Adolf and Stalin had done; the King always had the theoretical capacity to fire him from the job of prime minister and unfortenely for Mussolini, VEIII had the army to back up his power

At this you need to add the church and the various big economic interest like FIAT and Ansaldo.

Even an atheist like Benny was basically forced to come to term with the Vatican.
 
Same thing as I exposed here, just with Nasser. It highly depends on how cracy Mussolini and his fellows are - just remember that they have absolute power, and they can enforce almost everything; but the more crazy this "everything" becomes, the more high is the probability that fascist are removed from power quickly.

I mean, he built that crazy building with his face on it. I don't think Mussolini necessary has to be crazy policy-wise, I just mean like what if aesthetically he was bigger into the whole fascist revival of cultures thing. Like, just because he renames the council a Senate doesn't mean he has to appoint his horse to it.

(also what do you think of my British/French Egyptology occult fascism idea in that thread?)

- Mussolini rebuilds Rome restoring the old monuments and build new ones were none of these were

Wait, I thought they did that IRL

- Mussolini adopts a very hostile stance towards the Church and founds some Pagan warrior "orders" (the Italian version of the SS) worshiping Jupiter and Minerva

He doesn't have to make them pagan worshippers (though an elite Sol Invictus warrior cult would be cool). But maybe he could have a guest unit of Waffen-SS called the Imperial German Bodyguard, I mean the Byzantines had the Varangian Guard and Franco had his Army of Africa so there's kinda precedence of having foreign shocktroops.
 
I mean, he built that crazy building with his face on it. I don't think Mussolini necessary has to be crazy policy-wise, I just mean like what if aesthetically he was bigger into the whole fascist revival of cultures thing. Like, just because he renames the council a Senate doesn't mean he has to appoint his horse to it.

I really don't know why Mussolini didn't carry through the whole fascist ideology. I have ideas what he could have done, but I don't know what to change to have him do such things.

(also what do you think of my British/French Egyptology occult fascism idea in that thread?)

that would be funny. But it would be much more interesting if a native Egyptian regime adopted such a religion - a Mosley Egyptian religion in GB makes no sense...

Wait, I thought they did that IRL

Not completly. Rebuild the whole Forum Romanum to begin with.
 

Gaius Julius Magnus

Gone Fishin'
I could see Mussolini naming an Italian version of the SS the Praetorian Guard.

Maybe have Mussolini get the King of Italy crowned Emperor or "Imperator" and Mussolini being made "Consul".
 
Ah, and what do you think of the Imperial German unit idea?

that would be funny. But it would be much more interesting if a native Egyptian regime adopted such a religion - a Mosley Egyptian religion in GB makes no sense...

Well, I'd expect a fascist British state to still mostly crib from the typical conservative/classical ideals of England, just as fascist France would do the same for the French Kingdom. But I just mean maybe there's a cabal of weird theosophists who are really into Egypt, much like the German ones were really into Tibet.

The Brits or French fascists would be into Egyptology because it's Old and hence Powerful, but unlike German fascists who obsessed about Germanic and Nordic stuff, it would be about their nation conquering Egypt, and thus harnessing the mythical abilities of that civilization.

For France it's easier, I mean they actually took the original Cleopatra's Needle from Luxor and they own plenty of African colonies, so a French fascist state can be like, "Yeah we're totally following Napoleon's footsteps."

Maybe the Brits crib from British Israelism and are like, "We are the original, true Jews, and this is payback. Give us your ancient mummy magics." Which is ironic because if you think about it, Raiders of the Lost Ark was about the Nazis trying to acquire ancient Jewish magic so faux-Jewish British crazies trying to take ancient Egyptian magic would be quite a high concept twist.

Does this idea merit its own thread?
 
Still, Mussolini couldn't take on the Roman Catholic Church. Not with the influence it had in Italy. Taking on the Pope? May be. Taking on certain priests or cardinals? Probably did so already. Taking on the whole church? No way... So no way he'll ever re-establish the Roman gods.
 
Still, Mussolini couldn't take on the Roman Catholic Church. Not with the influence it had in Italy. Taking on the Pope? May be. Taking on certain priests or cardinals? Probably did so already. Taking on the whole church? No way... So no way he'll ever re-establish the Roman gods.

The Roman Empire was Catholic in its latter history

As to the "Mussolini as Princeps" folks...what happens to the King of Italy?
 
The Blackshirts/CCNN had some Roman trimmings. You might be able to add some more superficial changes like dividing Blackshirt military units between Hastati, Principes, Trarii.

Oh, and maybe they nab the 'Roman' salute before Hitler does. :p
 
Renaming italy

I'm actuall surprised that he didn't do that OTL.

Ah, and what do you think of the Imperial German unit idea?

Well, I'd expect a fascist British state to still mostly crib from the typical conservative/classical ideals of England, just as fascist France would do the same for the French Kingdom. But I just mean maybe there's a cabal of weird theosophists who are really into Egypt, much like the German ones were really into Tibet.

The Brits or French fascists would be into Egyptology because it's Old and hence Powerful, but unlike German fascists who obsessed about Germanic and Nordic stuff, it would be about their nation conquering Egypt, and thus harnessing the mythical abilities of that civilization.

For France it's easier, I mean they actually took the original Cleopatra's Needle from Luxor and they own plenty of African colonies, so a French fascist state can be like, "Yeah we're totally following Napoleon's footsteps."

Maybe the Brits crib from British Israelism and are like, "We are the original, true Jews, and this is payback. Give us your ancient mummy magics." Which is ironic because if you think about it, Raiders of the Lost Ark was about the Nazis trying to acquire ancient Jewish magic so faux-Jewish British crazies trying to take ancient Egyptian magic would be quite a high concept twist.

Does this idea merit its own thread?
Wouldn't a fascist France be more into glorifying Napoleon or Charlemagne?
 
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