ility ▁for ▁centuries ▁and ▁had ▁given ▁the ▁city ▁a ▁mayor ▁( Le on ardo ▁D ud an , ▁mayor ▁between ▁ 1 8 4 8 ▁and ▁ 1 8 5 3 ). ▁His ▁father , ▁Antonio , ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁rich est ▁land own ers ▁in ▁Dal mat ia . ▁His ▁mother , ▁C ater ina ▁G azz ara , ▁belonged ▁to ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁prominent ▁families ▁of ▁the ▁Italian ▁community ▁in ▁Split . ▁ ▁Part icip ation ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁At ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁D ud an ▁fled ▁from ▁Austria ▁to ▁Italy . ▁In ▁Italy , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁acting ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Italian ▁Pro - D al mat ia ▁and ▁advoc ated ▁for ▁inter vention ▁against ▁the ▁central ▁powers . ▁During ▁that ▁period ▁he ▁published ▁a ▁now ▁famous ▁ess ay ▁titled ▁" The ▁H abs burg ▁D ynast y : ▁Orig ins , ▁Size ▁and ▁Dec ay " ▁( R ome , ▁ 1 9 1 4 ), ▁which ▁was ▁im bu ed ▁with ▁ir red ent ism ▁and ▁opened ▁considerable ▁historical ▁and ▁political ▁debate ▁in ▁that ▁trans itional ▁period . ▁ ▁When ▁Italy ▁entered ▁the ▁war , ▁D ud an ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁a ▁volunte er ▁caval ry ▁officer . ▁He ▁distinguished ▁himself ▁and ▁was ▁decor ated ▁with ▁a ▁Cross ▁of ▁War . ▁A ▁F asc ist ▁from ▁the ▁movement ' s ▁beginning ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁he ▁worked ▁fer vent ly ▁for ▁the ▁maintenance - cost s ▁promises