The Italian Empire is a fascist dictatorship centered in Italy and stretching across Europe and Africa. It serves as a direct successor to the Kingdom of Italy, founded in 1861 but changed drastically by a fascist coup led by Benito Mussolini in 1922. After emerging victorious as a major Axis Power in World War Two, Italy has maintained a large, powerful, and impressive global empire, albeit one far overshadowed by those of Germany and Japan.