"Il Duce" was the title used by Benito Mussolini, the leader of Italy from 1922 to 1943. Mussolini founded the National Fascist Party and established a totalitarian regime that emphasized nationalism and militarism. His government sought to create a strong, centralized state and promoted the idea of a revived Roman Empire. Mussolini's policies included aggressive expansionism, leading to military campaigns in Ethiopia and Albania. He allied with Nazi Germany during World War II but faced significant military defeats. In 1943, he was deposed and later executed by partisans in 1945, marking the end of his rule.