Duce is an Italian word meaning leader or the second, derived from Latin word dux of the same meaning, of which Duke is a derivation. Other Italian leaders whose names derive from dux are the Doges of Venice and Genoa, and the title of nobility duca ("duke").

History and usage

The title was first used outside its traditional noble sense by Vittorio Emanuele III in 1915, during World War I. The term was also used by Gabriele d'Annunzio as dictator of the self-proclaimed Italian Regency of Carnaro in 1923 and, most significantly, by the Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini; the painting Il Duce, by Gerardo Dottori, indeed represents Mussolini. Due to Benito Mussolini, which he gave himself the name "Il Duce" in 1925, it had become associated with Fascism and is no longer frequent in contemporary use other than in reference to him. Italian speakers in general use other words for "leader."

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Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Duce". Image Credit.

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