Vincenzo Garioni

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Vincenzo Garioni (November 19, 1856 – April 24, 1929) was an Italian general who fought in several major conflicts of his era. He served in the Boxer Rebellion in China, the Italo-Turkish War in Libya, and World War I. Garioni also governed Italian Libya, first of Tripolitania and later of both Tripolitania and Cyrenaica.

Career highlights
- Boxer Rebellion: Commanded Italian forces as part of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in China (1900).
- Italo-Turkish War (Libya): Led operations in western Tripolitania, conquering key areas such as Sidi Said, Sidi Ali, Zuwarah, and Ghadames.
- Libyan governance: Governor of Tripolitania from 1913 to 1914; later governor of both Tripolitania and Cyrenaica from 1918 to 1919, tasked with ending Arab revolts after World War I.
- World War I: Served on the Italian front, commanding the 13th and 14th Divisions and briefly the 3rd Army before Duke of Aosta arrived. Later led the VI Army Corps and the II Army Corps. Fought in the Battles of the Isonzo, earning the Silver Medal of Military Valor for crossing the Isonzo at Plava (Plave) in 1915. His units also fought in the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo in 1916. He helped coordinate relief after the Avezzano earthquake in 1915.
- Later life: Left his Libyan posts in May 1919 and retired from active service. He died in Venice in 1929.

Honors and awards
- Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
- Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
- Knight and then Commander of the Military Order of Savoy
- Silver Medal of Military Valor (for the Isonzo crossing at Plava)
- Commemorative and service medals from campaigns in China, the Italo-Turkish War, and World War I, plus the Allied Victory Medal

Garioni’s career spanned colonization-era conflicts and the Great War, leaving his mark as a versatile Italian general and Libyan administrator.