Antonio Salandra

Antonio Salandra (1853–1931) was a conservative-liberal Italian jurist and politician who rose to national prominence in the early twentieth century. Born in Troia, in southern Italy, he studied law and began his career in academia and public administration before entering parliamentary politics in the 1880s.

Across decades in the Chamber of Deputies, Salandra held several ministerial portfolios—most notably in Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce—where he cultivated a reputation for orderly administration and fiscal prudence. He belonged to the generation of statesmen who navigated Italy’s transition from notables’ politics to mass politics while seeking to preserve constitutional monarchy and public order.

Appointed President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) in March 1914, Salandra initially proclaimed Italian neutrality at the outbreak of the Great War. By early 1915, however, he advanced the doctrine of "sacro egoismo"—that Italy’s foreign policy must be guided solely by national interest. Working closely with Foreign Minister Sidney Sonnino, his government negotiated the Treaty of London (April 1915), aligning Italy with the Entente in exchange for territorial promises; Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on May 23, 1915.

Wartime governance tested Salandra’s balancing of strategy, resources, and political consent. The grinding stalemate on the Isonzo front, domestic divisions, and the shock of the Strafexpedition (Asiago offensive) in 1916 eroded parliamentary support. Confronted with a hostile chamber and the burdens of a long war, Salandra resigned in June 1916, and was succeeded by Paolo Boselli.

In the years that followed, Salandra remained an influential elder statesman and commentator. He reflected on neutrality, alliance politics, and Italy’s war aims in essays and memoirs, maintaining his belief that prudent statesmanship must align ideals with the nation’s concrete interests. He died in Rome in 1931, leaving a complex legacy as the premier who led Italy into the First World War.

What Endures

• The articulation of "sacro egoismo"—a frank statement that national interest should guide foreign policy.
• Leadership during Italy’s pivotal turn from neutrality to intervention in 1915.
• A model of cautious, legalistic statecraft amid the tumult of mass politics and total war.