Perrone Compagni joined the Italian Army at an early age and was a career soldier.
[1] Perrone Compagni became an important figure as Italy stood on the brink of takeover by Benito Mussolini when he was appointed one of the four commandants-general of the fascist squads.
[2] Under Mussolini's government Perrone Compagni enjoyed wide power, particularly in Tuscany where he was effective head of the fascist machine.
[3] His high profile made him a target for anti-fascists however and he was wounded in an ambush in Perugia not long after the takeover.
[1] In April 1934 he was appointed to the Italian Senate and in 1938 he secured the expulsion of his rival Carlo Scorza from that body.