Costanzo Ciano

Costanzo Ciano
President of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 28 April 1934 – 2 March 1939
Preceded by	Giovanni Giuriati
Succeeded by	Himself as president of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations
President of Chamber of Fasces and Corporations
In office 23 March 1939 – 26 June 1939
Preceded by	Himself as president of the Chamber of Deputies
Succeeded by	Dino Grandi
Personal details
Born	(1876-08-30)30 August 1876 Livorno, Italy
Died	Lucca, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Political party	National Fascist Party
Children	Galeazzo Ciano
Profession	Naval commander

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

Biography

Early life

Born at Livorno the son of Raimondo Ciano and wife Argia Puppo, he entered the Naval Academy of Livorno in 1891, being commissioned an officer five years later. In 1901, he became Tenente di vascello and took part in the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912.

The First World War

In 1915, at the entrance of Italy in World War I, he was a Capitano di corvetta (lieutenant commander), and was assigned to service in Cirenaica. After his return to Italy, he operated at the command of fast MAS units, receiving 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 appointed Senior commander at the end of the war and ennobled by King Victor Emmanuel III as Conte di Cortellazzo e Buccari.

Post-war fascist

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.

On 31 October 1919, he assumed the post of Undersecretary of State for the Regia Marina and Commissioner for the Merchant Navy. On 9 November 1923, he was appointed rear admiral in the Naval Reserve. He was President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 1934 until his death, which occurred at Ponte a Moriano in 1939.

Awards and decorations

• Silver Medal of Military Valor, Upper Adriatic, April–May 1916
• Silver Medal of Military Valor, Venice, 1917
• Bronze Medal of Military Valor, Upper Adriatic, 1917
• Gold Medal of Military Valour, October 31, 1923
• Military Order of Savoy, Commander
• Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Knight Grand Cross
• Order of Pope Pius IX, Knight Grand Cross
• Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, Knight
• Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Knight 1st Class
• Order of the Crown of Italy, Knight Grand Cross
• 60px Commemorative Medal for the Italo-Austrian War 1915–1918
• 60px Commemorative Medal of the Unity of Italy
• 60px Allied Victory Medal

References

• Santomassimo, Gianpasquale (1981)."Ciano, Costanzo.]" In: Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Vol. 25. Roma: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana.
• Mazzoni, M. (2019). "Costanzo Ciano e famiglia, i grandi ricchi del regime." In: P. Giovannini, ed., Il fascismo dalle mani sporche. Dittatura, corruzione, affarismo. Bari, Roma: Laterza, 2019, pp. 49–70.
• Musiedlak, Didier (2007). Parlementaires en Chemise Noire: Italie (1922-1943). Besançon: Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté.

External links

• Newspaper clippings about Costanzo Ciano in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW

Political offices
Preceded by Giovanni Giuriati	President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies 1934–1939	Succeeded by Dino Grandi
Italian nobility
Preceded by New creation	Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari 1925–1939	Succeeded by Galeazzo Ciano