Costanzo Ciano, 1st Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari (30 August 1876 – 26 June 1939) was an Italian naval officer and politician.

He was the father of Galeazzo Ciano.

Biography

Born at Livorno the son of Raimondo Ciano and wife Argia Puppo, he entered the Naval Academy of Livorno in 1891, being commissioned an officer five years later. In 1901, he became Tenente di vascello and took part in the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912.

In 1915, at the entrance of Italy in World War I, he was a Capitano di corvetta (lieutenant commander), and was assigned to service in Cirenaica. After his return to Italy, he operated at the command of fast MAS units, receiving a Gold Medal for Military Value for a famous action in Bakar Harbour in Croatian Littoral, which was later celebrated by the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio (who had also participated). Ciano was appointed Senior commander at the end of the war and ennobled by King Victor Emmanuel III as Conte di Cortellazzo e Buccari.

Ciano's ardent nationalism drew him into fascism. He became leader of the Livorno fascioand participated in the March on Rome in October 1922.

On 31 October 1919, he assumed the post of Undersecretary of State for the Regia Marinaand Commissioner for the Merchant Navy. On 9 November 1923, he was appointed rear admiral in the Naval Reserve. He was President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 1934 until his death, which occurred at Ponte a Moriano in 1939.