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| 1922, Feb. 6 |
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| PIUS XI (Achille Ratti) was elected pope on the demise of Benedict XV (Jan. 22). His reign proved to be one of the most critical in the modern history of the papacy. Although the long-standing quarrel with the French republic was gradually adjusted by compromise (May 12, 1923; Jan. 18, 1924), the pope took a strong stand against communism, which he condemned publicly on many occasions (as in the encyclical of March 19, 1937). The anticlerical policies of the Mexican government drew similar condemnations in 1926, as did those of the Spanish republic in 1931. | 1 |
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| Feb. 9 |
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| The Bonomi cabinet resigned. The new government (Feb. 25) was led by Luigi Facta, supported by Liberals and Democrats. | 2 |
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| March 3 |
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| A Fascist coup overthrew the Fiume government. The town was then occupied by Italian troops (March 17). | 3 |
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| May |
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| Fascists drove out the Communist city government of Bologna. The conflict between the factions extended to all the larger cities. | 4 |
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| Aug. 3–4 |
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| Fascists seized control of the Milan city government. The government seemed quite unable to cope with the aggressive action of the bands. | 5 |
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| Oct. 16 |
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| Formation of a quadrumvirate under Mussolini (Michele Bianchi, Italo Balbo, Gen. Emilio De Bono, Dino Grandi). | 6 |
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| Oct. 24 |
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| Fascist congress at Naples. Mussolini, having refused a seat in the cabinet, demanded the resignation of Facta and formation of a Fascist cabinet. Facta refused, apparently underestimating the power of the Fascist movement, which was, to be sure, a minority movement but one led aggressively and supported by nationalist elements and by business interests that feared communism. | 7 |
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| Oct. 28 |
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| The MARCH ON ROME by the Fascists. The king refused Facta's demand for the proclamation of martial law, whereupon Facta resigned. The Fascists occupied Rome. | 8 |
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| Oct. 31 |
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| Mussolini, summoned by the king from Milan, formed a cabinet of Fascists and Nationalists. | 9 |
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| Nov. 25 |
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| Mussolini was granted by the king and the Parliament dictatorial powers until Dec. 31, 1923, to restore order and introduce reforms. He then appointed prefects and subprefects of Fascist sympathies and, with the support of the army, gradually established control of the government machinery. He still professed the intention of governing constitutionally, and the constitution remained technically in force. | 10 |
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