| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| This campaign was central to Operation Abstention, which was prevented when Italy recaptured the island of Kastellorizo from the British. Admirals Inigo Campioni and Luigi Mascherpa became prisoners of war during this campaign and were executed shortly thereafter. (+) Generals Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller and Ulrich Kleeman successfully led this campaign, one of the last major German victories in World War Two. (*) For the points, name this campaign to capture an archipelago located in the Aegean Sea. | Dodecanese Campaign |
| This battle began when Louis the Twelfth moved south after the French capture of Milan and was met with resistance from a mercenary army near Bergamo. This battle, mentioned in Macchiavelli’s The Prince, led to the injury and capture of Bartolomeo d'Alviano by the French (+) after co-commander Niccolò di Pitigliano’s [[pee-tee-LYAH-nohs]] refusal to help him. Part of the War of the League of Cambrai and of the larger Italian (*) Wars, for the points, what was this turning point battle, at which a Venetian loss to France cost it most of its mainland Terraferma? | Battle of Agnadello (or Battle of Vailà) |
| As a result of this war, Italy formally annexed the uninhabited Saseno Island, and this war claimed the lives of military leaders Selam Musai and Enrico Gotti. A group of Albanian-American fighters called Banda e Vatrës fought in this war after traveling to Durrës from the U.S. (+) This war began when Italian general Settimo Piacentini refused to surrender a territory which was disputed with Albania. (*) For the points, name this two-month long war between Italy and Albania, which ended with the first Treaty of Tirana. | Vlora War (prompt on "War of 1920", or “Italian-Albania (n) War”) |
| This all-volunteer specialized group, once commanded by Gino Birindelli, participated in the Raid on Souda Bay and is subdivided into groups of raiders and divers. This special operations unit uses the slogan “E Fluctibus irruit in hostem” (+) and is headquartered in Porto Venere at a base named for Teseo Tesei. (*) For the points, name the Italian Navy’s special operations unit, formally established in 1939 and comparable to the US Navy SEALs. | COMSUBIN (or Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori "Teseo Tesei"; accept Divers and Raiders Group Command "Teseo Tesei") |
| This general starved Emperor Avitus to death following a victory at Placentia. This man appointed Aegidius as the Magister Militum of Gaul, who later formed the Kingdom of Soissons. This emperor reconquered Septimania following the Battle of Arelate, at which he crushed the (+) Visigoths under Theodoric the Second. This ruler stopped a Vandal invasion at Sinuessa but had his invasion fleet for Vandal-ruled Africa destroyed by treachery. (*) For the points, name this late Western Roman emperor who restored most of Hispania before being beheaded by his friend, Ricimer. | Majorian (or Julius Valerius Majorianus) |
| After the Chiaramonti of Palermo were declared traitors by Louis the Child, this queen was invited to invade Sicily by its Latin faction. This monarch had Niccolo Acciaiuoli [[ah-chah-yoo-OH- lee]] capture Messina, only to lose it to Frederick the Simple following failed (+) marriage negotiations. This ruler supported Antipope Clement the Seventh and was assassinated at Muro by Charles of Durazzo. This ruler sold Avignon to Clement the Sixth during her trial for the murder of Andrew of Hungary, (*) her first husband. For the points, name this four-times married, first female ruler of Naples. | Joanna the First |
| The creator of this concept was opposed by Marcus Minucius Rufus and earned the cognomen "Cunctator." This idea led to the refusal to reinforce a guard force at the Battle of Ager Falernus, while Rufus instigated the Battle of Geronium after this concept's proponent left for (+) Rome to defend its use. The abandonment of this idea, which had previously caused some Spanish mercenaries to desert, led to defeat for Paullus and Varro at the Battle of (*) Cannae. For the points, what tactic of cutting supply lines and avoiding battle derives its name from that of a Roman dictator? | Fabian strategy (or tactics) |
| This duke of Milan usurped the title from his seven-year old nephew, Gian Galeazzo, after gaining regency. During the Second Italian War, this “Arbiter of Italy” was captured at the Battle of Novara and detained until his death in France. Nicknamed (+) “Il Moro” due to his dark complexion, this man's wife, Beatrice d'Este, helped him escape from the French, but this man was ultimately taken prisoner by Louis the Twelfth and died in captivity. (*) For the points, name this man who commissioned The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. | Ludovico Sforza (or Ludovico Maria Sforza; accept Ludovico Il Moro before mentioned; prompt on "Sforza") |
| This general installed Polemon the First as king of the Cimmerian Bosporus in opposition to Scribonius. During the Perusine War, this general and Salvidienus surrounded Lucius Antonius and forced his surrender. This leader had a canal built from Lake Avernus to Lake Lacrinus (+) for his fleet at Portus Julius, which this general used to defeat Sextus Pompey at Naulochus. The last ruler of the Kingdom of Judaea was named in honor of this man, who commissioned the construction of the Roman (*) Pantheon. For the points, name this son-in-law of Augustus and victor of the Battle of Actium. | Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa |
| This artistic work was originally associated with the Arditi shock troops, and this work was recomposed by Salvator Gotta to include a reference to Italian expansion to Italy in an allusion to Dante. This artistic work was used alongside the Marcia Reale and was played in Japan (+) following the signing of the Tripartite Pact. Translated to the "song of the blackshirts party," (*) for the points, what is this song, which was used as the national anthem of Fascist Italy? | "Giovinezza" |
| The Sequani handed King Teutobod over to this general, who had earlier routed Teutobod at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae. Lutatius Catulus disputed credit for the victory at Vercellae with this general by showing that most of the dead Cimbri had the pila of Catulus's (+) legionnaires embedded in their corpses. This general made the Aquila the only Roman standard during his namesake (*) reforms. For the points, name this Roman general who was elected consul seven times, known for his late rivalry with Sulla. | Gaius Marius (prompt on "Marian reforms") |
| This organization traces its founding to the establishment of the Light Troops Legion under Sardinian king Victor Amadeus the Third, and this organization's coat of arms depicts the Cimon della Pala mountain. Unlike similar organizations, such as the Carabinieri (+) and the Polizia di Stato, this agency is not part of either the Ministry of Defense or Interior. (*) For the points, name this militarized police agency, overseen by the MEF and known for its suppression of economic crimes and illegal drug trafficking, as well as enforcing border and customs laws. | Guardia di Finanza (or G.diF.; or GdF; accept Financial Guard, Financial Police, or Guard of Finance; prompt on less-specific answers such as "police") |
| At this battle, one officer allegedly told the eventual victor, "This battle is completely lost. However, there is time to win another." The Treaty of Luneville was signed in the aftermath of this battle, at which a key attack was led by Michael von Melas. A dish similar to chicken à la Provençale (+) but containing crayfish was named in honor of this battle, as was a horse of the victor. That victor at this battle used it to secure his position as first consul, and it occurred after a crossing of the Alps. Leading to the expulsion of Austrian (*) forces from Italy, for the points, what was this 1800 victory for Napoleon? | Battle of Marengo (accept Chicken Marengo) |
| After Benito Mussolini came to power, this man, along with Armando Diaz, was promoted to marshall of Italy. This general was the subject of a government inquiry that followed the Battle of Caporetto and prompted his removal from the Allied military council at Versailles. (+) This general commanded the Battles of the Isonzo, a series of twelve battles against Austria-Hungary. (*) For the points, name this general who served as chief of staff of the Italian Army during the majority of World War One. | Luigi Cadorna |
| During this battle, the Seigneur de Bonnivet committed suicide, and Captain Pomperan disguised himself as the Duke of Bourbon. The loser of this battle surrendered to Charles de Lannoy and was imprisoned at Pizzighettone. Richard de la Pole, the last active Yorkist claimant, (+) died during this battle while fighting the landsknechts of Georg von Frundsberg. Following the annihilation of the Black Band, Cesare Hercolani killed the horse of Francis the First, enabling his capture during this battle. (*) For the points, name this victory for Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Fifth near Milan. | Battle of Pavia |
| During this engagement, a general, known as "electric whiskers," was captured by the 6th Australian division. The Combeforce cut the Via Balbia during this raid, allowing the destruction of the Babini force at the Battle of Beda Fomm. Iven Mackay's capture of Bardia during this engagement allowed the Sirte (+) division to be overrun at Tobruk. Archibald Wavell ordered Jumbo Wilson to organize this attack, for which Wilson was promoted to military governor of Cyrenaica. (*) For the points, name this British raid, which destroyed the Italian 10th Army in Northern Africa. | Operation Compass |
| The Roman Republic adopted the manipular formation during these conflicts, and Rome celebrated 24 triumphs during these conflicts. During the second of these conflicts, Roman soldiers were (+) forced to walk under a yoke of their own spears by Gaius Pontius at the Caudine Forks. According to Livy, Etruscan power in Italy was broken during these conflicts at Lake Vadimo. (*) For the points, name these conflicts, named for an Oscan-speaking people, in which Rome consolidated control over the central and southern Italian peninsula. | Samnite War (s) (accept First, Second, or Third Samnite War (s)) |
| One leader in this battle refused to issue newer-model rifles in order to use up old ammunition. Soldiers captured in this battle allegedly had their right hands and left feet cut off, and at the start of this battle, troops were inadvertently led into enemy lines by a poor map. (+) Oreste Baratieri led an unsuccessful assault in this battle, days before his troops would have run out of supplies while defending the Tigray province. (*) For the points, name this victory for Menelik the Second, which ended the First Italo-Ethiopian War. | Battle of Adwa |
| Richard Berg, the creator of this game, noted that he anachronistically created its "pasta rule," which requires one army to carry extra water rations even though that army would have historically cooked their pasta in tomato sauce. This game contains a 16-page background (+) paper written by Albert Nofi and Jim Dunnigan, in addition to cartographic materials designed by Redmond Simonsen. (*) For the points, name this "longest board game ever produced," published by SPI in 1978 to simulate World War Two battles in a namesake region. | The Campaign for North Africa: "The Desert War, 1940–43 (accept either underlined portion) |
| One figure in this battle was consigned to the ninth circle of hell by Dante in the Inferno section of The Divine Comedy. The victorious Ghibelline army at this battle was led by Provenzano Salvani and Farinata degli Uberti and was outnumbered almost two to one by their Guelph-aligned opponents. This (+) 13th century battle in Tuscany turned on the cry of “San Giorgio” by the Sienese forces, and the treachery of Bocca degli Abati. (*) For the points, name this bloodiest battle of medieval Italy, a defeat for Florence outside its rival, Siena. | Battle of Montaperti |
| This man's ideas were largely opposed by "attack doctrine" thinker Amedeo Mecozzi. This man teamed up with the engineer Gianni Caproni and utilized dirigibles, in addition to the first wartime use of airplanes, in the 1911 invasion of Libya. In Rivista Aeuronautica, (+) this man theorized that the use of 300 tons of bombs over a city could end any war in less than a month. (*) For the points, name this Italian general and author of Command of the Air, an early advocate of air power and strategic bombing. | Giulio Douhet [[doo-HEH]] |
| This condotierre entered contractual service with the Marquis of Montferrat following the Battle of Lanzo. This mercenary uttered the cry "Carne!" at the Battle of Castagnaro, at which he assisted Padua in defeating Verona. This leader accepted a non-aggression pact with the city of (+) Florence during the War of the Eight Saints, and this son-in-law of Bernabò Visconti also fought for Pope Gregory the Eleventh in that war. (*) For the points, name this English mercenary who captained the White Company. | John Hawkwood (accept Giovanni Acuto; accept John Sharp) |
| This brigade was described by Austro-Hungarian troops as "red devils" due to their partial red collars. This brigade's coat of arms resembles its namesake city's coat of arms, which displays a white cross with a blue background in the first and fourth quadrants and a white tower (+) in the second and third quadrants. This brigade first appeared during the First Battle of Isonzo in 1915. (*) For the points, name this mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army whose soldiers are recruited exclusively from Sardinia. | Sassari Mechanized Brigade |
| This ruler defeated a rebellion, funded by Perennos of Durazzo and led by the counts of Conversano, Molfetta, and Montescaglioso. Anna Komnene described this duke's wife, Sichelgaita, as "another Pallas, if not a second Athena." Despite destroying most of the Varangian (+) Guard of Alexios Komnenos at the Battle of Dyrrachium, this knight was forced to retreat from Greece to relieve Gregory the Seventh. (*) For the points, name this Norman adventurer who terminated Byzantine control in Italy and whose sobriquet can be translated as "the Cunning." | Robert Guiscard (or Robert the Guiscard; accept Terror Mundi) |
| Admiral Andrew Cunningham said, "[This battle] should be remembered forever as having shown once and for all that in the Fleet Air Arm the Navy (+) has its most devastating weapon." During this battle, the battleships Caio Duilio, Conte di Cavour, and Littorio were badly damaged. The British were victorious at this battle after its 21 biplane torpedo bombers took off from the Illustrious. (*) For the points, name this 1940 World War Two battle, in which navy warships were devastated at an Italian port. | Battle of Taranto |
| This family destroyed the Parcitadi following a marital alliance which failed to keep this family in the Ghibellines. This family was defeated by Gil de Albornoz and forced to participate in the subjugation of the Ordelaffi of Forli. One member of this family was canonized into hell (+) by Pius the Second, and this family was a rival of the Montefeltro of Urbino. Auguste Rodin depicted a member of this family kissing Francesca da Polenta in (*) The Kiss. For the points, name this family, which ruled Rimini. | House of Malatesta (accept Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta; accept Giovannia Malatesta) |
| This incident prompted a seven-part ultimatum from Italy, in which Greek authorities refused to pay an indemnity of 50 million lire. This incident was prompted by international outrage after Enrico Tellini, an Italian general, and his team were murdered in Greek territory, (+) having been sent by the League of Nations to investigate a border dispute between Greece and Albania. (*) For the points, name this 1923 diplomatic and military crisis between Italy and Greece, during which Italy occupied and bombarded a Greek territory. | Corfu Incident |
| This man wrote a song in honor of the Battles of Monte Grappa titled "Mount Grappa, you are my Fatherland." As minister of the colonies, this man declared that it would "have to come to concentration camps" regarding the 2nd Italo-Senussi War. Following the Verona trials, (+) this man remarked that they "barely got him" after hearing his execution sentence at the age of 77. Despite looting the Axum Obelisk, this general was replaced by Pietro Badoglio. (*) For the points, name this marshal and quadrumvir who voted in favor of Mussolini's removal. | Emilio de Bono |
| Under the reign of Tullus Hostilius, Fidenae and this city were defeated by Rome. This city was the home of the sculptor Vulca, who made this city's namesake Apollo statue out of terracotta. This city's decline began under the reign of its king Lars Tolumnius (+) when Fidenae revolted against Rome. The richest city in the Etruscan League, (*) For the points, what city fell to the Romans under the forces of Marcus Camillus at a namesake battle in 396 BC? | Veii (or Veius; or Veio; accept Apollo of Veii; accept Battle or Siege of Veii) |
| During this engagement the Gore Force lost all of their tanks retreating to Thala, and the 19th Combat regiment division was overrun along Highway 13 by the Centauro division. During this battle, two U.S. infantry battalions were marooned on Djebel Lessouda and Djebel Ksaira, (+) while Luigi Bonfatti was killed leading the 7th Bersaglieri Regiment. Lloyd Fredenhall was recalled by Eisenhower in the aftermath of this disaster, during which Erwin Rommel failed to capture U.S. supplies at Tebessa. (*) For the points, name this first major engagement between US and Axis forces in Africa. | Battle of Kasserine Pass |
| The first iteration of this organization was housed in the Via Pellegrino and was led by Kaspar von Silenen. This organization's dress uniforms were designed by Jules Repond, who used a four- color design of blue, red, orange, and yellow. (+) Recruits to this organization are required to be unmarried Catholic males (*) between eighteen and thirty years of age. For the points, name this armed force, which protects the Apostolic Palace and the pope. | Pontifical Swiss Guard (accept "Papal" in place of "Pontifical") |