Diaz, Armando

Diaz, Armando (1861-1928), Italian soldier, born in Naples. He fought in Italy's first war with Ethiopia (1895-1896) and in the Italo-Turkish War (1911-1912). In 1914 he was made a major general. During World War I he was appointed (1916) a lieutenant general, and after the disastrous defeat sustained by the Italians in 1917 in the Battle of Caporetto, Diaz replaced General Luigi Cadorna as chief of the Italian general staff. In the fall of 1918 the Italians, under Diaz's command, won the campaign that, in November, led to the capitulation of Austria. Later, Diaz was appointed inspector general of the army and, in 1921, was given the title Duca della Vittoria (“Duke of Victory”). When Benito Mussolini came to power in 1922, he appointed Diaz minister of war. In 1924 Diaz was elevated to the newly created rank of marshal.