The Generalissimo - Luigi Cadorna and the Italian Army, 1850–1928

Major new biography tracing the rise, command and reputation of the controversial Luigi Cardorna from his appointment to the head of the Italian army to defeat at Caporetto in 1917. Marco Mondini delves into how ideology and psychology combined to create an untouchable autocrat.

List of contents

Introduction: forgetting Cadorna; Part I. The Ascent: 1. The force of destiny; 2. 'That most imperfect military organization': the army in Cadorna's time; 3. Waiting for war; Part II. The Enigma of Consensus: 4. Preparing for war; 5. The real thing; 6. Man management; Part III. The Downfall: 7. At Cadorna's court; 8. Caporetto according to Cadorna: a moral autobiography of the Italians; Conclusion: The Memoir Battle.

About the author

Marco Mondini is Associate Professor in History of Conflicts at the University of Padua. His recent publications include Il ritorno della guerra. Combattere, uccidere, morire in Italia (1861-2022), Roma 1922. Il fascismo e la guerra mai finita, The Mediatization of War and Peace (as co-editor with C. Cornelissen) and Fiume 1919. Una guerra civile italiana.

Summary

Major new biography tracing the rise, command and reputation of the controversial Luigi Cardorna from his appointment to the head of the Italian army to defeat at Caporetto in 1917. Marco Mondini delves into how ideology and psychology combined to create an untouchable autocrat.

Foreword

Major new biography tracing the rise, command, and reputation of Italy's most controversial general.

Product details

• Authors: Marco Mondini
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 31.07.2025
• EAN: 9781009098670
• ISBN: 978-1-009-09867-0
• Illustrations: Worked examples or Exercises
• Series: Cambridge Military Histories
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; First World War, HISTORY / Military / General, military history, Italy, Far-right political ideologies and movements, Modern warfare, c 1919 to c 1939 (Inter-war period), c 1914 to c 1918 (World War One period)