Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (1883-1945) was a fascist dictator who ruled over Italy from 1922 until his death in 1945. Sometimes referred to as 'Il Duce', Mussolini is often credited as one of the first explicitly fascist world leader. Because Mussolini's antisemitism and racism were less pronounced than those of counterparts like Hitler, some fascist use his likeness as a more socially acceptable symbol of fascism.