Costanzo Ciano, 1st Count of Cortellazzo (Italian: [koˈstantso ˈtʃaːno]; 30 August 1876 – 26 June 1939) was an Italian naval officer and politician. He was the father of Galeazzo Ciano.

Costanzo Ciano
President of Chamber of Fasces and Corporations
In office
23 March 1939 – 26 June 1939
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byDino Grandi
President of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
28 April 1934 – 2 March 1939
Preceded byGiovanni Giuriati
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born(1876-08-30)30 August 1876
Livorno, Italy
Died26 June 1939(1939-06-26) (aged 62)
Lucca, Italy
Political partyNational Fascist Party
ChildrenGaleazzo Ciano
ProfessionNaval commander

Biography

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Early life

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Born at Livorno, he was the son of Raimondo Ciano and his wife, Argia Puppo. He entered the Livorno Naval Academy in 1891 and was commissioned an officer five years later. In 1901, he became Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant (tenente di vascello) and took part in the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912.

First World War

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In 1915, before the entrance of Italy to the First World War, he was a capitano di corvetta (lieutenant commander) and was assigned to serve in Cirenaica.

After his return to Italy, he operated at the command of fast MAS units and received a gold medal for military value for a famous action in Bakar Harbour in Croatian Littoral, which was later celebrated by the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who had also participated.

Ciano was promoted to the rank of capitano di vascello (captain) at the end of the war.

Postwar fascist

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Ciano's ardent nationalism drew him into fascism. He became leader of the Livorno fascio and participated in the March on Rome in October 1922.[1]

On 31 October 1919, he assumed the post of Undersecretary of State for the Regia Marina and was Commissioner for the Merchant Navy. On 9 November 1923, he was appointed rear admiral in the Naval Reserve. In 1928, he was ennobled by King Victor Emmanuel III as Conte di Cortellazzo. He was the president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 1934 until his death, which occurred at Ponte a Moriano in 1939.

Awards and decorations

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Military decorations
  Gold Medal of Military Valor
  Silver Medal of Military Valor
  Bronze Medal of Military Valor
  Commemorative Medal for the Italo-Austrian War 1915–1918
  Commemorative Medal of the Unity of Italy

References

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  1. ^ Paul H. Lewis (2002). Latin fascist elites: the Mussolini, Franco, and Salazar regimes. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 30–31, 184. ISBN 0-275-97880-X. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
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Political offices
Preceded by President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
1934–1939
Succeeded by
Italian nobility
Preceded by
New creation
Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari
1925–1939
Succeeded by