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White Supremacy Transformed Rome’s History into a Myth of Pure Racial Power
Fascist leaders reimagined ancient Rome as a story of pure white glory to support modern ideas of racial dominance.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Italian nationalists struggled with doubts about their country’s status. After uniting in 1861, Italy had not yet earned a place among the great powers of Europe. They created a story that linked modern Italy to the glory of the old empire. This story was not based on the true history of Rome but was a carefully crafted myth — a white, uniform and warlike Roman to justify modern ideas of racial superiority and imperial expansion.
Prime Minister Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime took these ideas and used them as powerful propaganda. The fascist state embraced Roman symbols like the eagle, the fasces, and the Roman salute. These symbols were not tributes to the past. They were used to build an image of a pure white nation that was destined to rule.
Thinkers like Julius Evola argued that Italy inherited a special, almost divine, Aryan spirit that set it apart from other nations. Writers such as Alfredo Oriani and poet Gabriele D’Annunizo used images from the past to support modern military actions, including the violent invasion of Ottoman…
