Cesare Fusillo

Cesario Vittore Fusillo (born June 6 1960) is an Aciriani politician and general who has served as the Head of Imperial Defense since 2010, and the director of the Polizia Amministrativa Imperiale since 2011 following the merger of the titles of director and Head of Imperial Defense.

Fusillo was appointed as the 13th Head of Imperial Defense in 2010 by the current emperor Sebastiano I, and was reappointed to the role in 2018 following the ascension of Ignazio I to the throne of Aciria. During his time as Head of Imperial Defense, Fusillo has made it a priority to modernize the Aciriani Armed Forces and to reduce the bloated command structure of the army in particular. Fusillo became a controversial figure in the armed forces following the dissolution and merging of the title of director of the Polizia Amministrativa Imperiale, granting the Head of Imperial Defense further central power over the army.

Early life and education
Fusillo was born on June 6 1960 in Pantevenna, Aciria as the youngest and last child of Vittore Mariano Fusillo and Allegria Mona Fusillo (née De Luca). His paternal heritage is reportedly Montanaro. Prior to Fusillo's birth, he was preceded by two siblings, Ezio and Patrizia. Patrizia died in infancy, while Ezio eventually died during a confrontation in a bar while Fusillo was in his teens. His mother died in labour, leaving his father to provide for him and his elder brother until Ezio was old enough to work. In Fusillo's biography, he describes his childhood home in Pantevenna as "run down and crawling with rats", with him claiming his philosophy on battle comes from a confrontation he had with a rat as a child. Fusillo cornered the rat in an attempt to kill it, but to his surprise, the cornered rat attacked him.

His father worked in a car manufacturing plant, where Fusillo's brother joined their father once he turned 18. Despite the income, the three lived in squalor which gave Fusillo the drive to study hard to be able to escape it. After graduating both primary and secondary school, he applied twice to the Imperial University of Trossera, but was denied entry both times. In desperation, he applied to the Imperial Academy of Trossera for a military education following his mandatory conscription, and entered. He left the academy as a second lieutenant and was assigned to Camp Valor (Aciriano: Valore de Campo) in the Kingdom of Crasoa, tasked with ensuring the stability of the new region of the empire.

Military career
Following his graduation from the Imperial Academy, Fusillo was granted the rank of second lieutenant, and his initial assignment was to Camp Valor in the Imperial Protectorate of the Kingdom of Crasoa with the 2nd Carabinieri Regiment to aid in policing the civilian population. After finishing the assignment, he had a brief stint back to the Imperial Academy for further officer training, after which he was sent to Fort Whale in the Kingdom of Malatra with 4th Carabinieri Regiment with similar duties as his last assignment.

In 1986 Fusillo was assigned to a basic training camp in Valariano where he trained new conscripts. His discipline and skill was noted by his superiors, which recommended him for the Imperial Defense College which he entered and completed in time with Montanaro-Aciriani tensions rising, he was sent to oversee and train with the 4th Alpini Regiment near Chegallari. He worked closely with the PAI during his time in the Montanaro region, with newfound respect for the organisation, before seeing them as cloak-and-dagger cowards.

Eventually in 2003 he was promoted to Lieutenant General. WIP

Head of Imperial Defense
On March 8 2010, Fusillo was appointed the Head of Imperial Defense by the current Emperor Sebastiano I. The appointment was done a week after Sebastiano I removed the title from Tacito Vecellio, the former Head of Imperial Defense following a corruption scandal that was revealed by the PAI 3 months prior. Some news outlets speculated that the scandal was fabricated by the PAI director Nero Piazza due to the open secret that was the closeness of Piazza and Fusillo, with Fusillo as the head being beneficial to both him and Piazza.

Fusillo was chosen over his peers due to his rapid rise in the hierarchy of the military and the plethora of recommendations given by members of the Imperial Senate to the Emperor. Following the ascension of Ignazio I to the throne of Aciria, he followed his father and re-appointed Fusillo as the head once again.

Personal life
Fusillo is reported to be fluent in Metzi and Audonian Persian alongside Aciriano.

Family
Fusillo's wife, Luisa Violante, was Fusillo's girlfriend on and off since secondary school, who he then married immediately after his graduation from the Imperial Academy, prior to his first assignment. The two have one daughter, Graziella Luisa Fusillo (born 1987). Fusillo is very private about his family life, so little is known about it other than speculations, such as the lack of appearances together with his wife indicating marital issues. During a rare interview, Luisa confirmed that she and his husband have lived separately since 2020 due to his anger. His wife is a member of the Imperial Senate and a graduate of the University of Marocino. Luisa is a distant relative of the founder of the Free Republic of Aciria, Silvano de Albairate.

Their daughter and her family live in the suburbs of Trossera, not too far away from Fusillo and his wife.

Personality
Fusillo is known to be a chess fanatic and a chess prodigy, playing it with both his father and brother since he was a boy. He reportedly regularly visits the emperor for a game of chess, and bonds with him over their common interest in tennis. His autobiography also reveals that he's fond of learning languages, something that started in secondary school with Metzi. His associates and friends describe him as diligent and down to earth, but prone to anger. He is a devout Catholic, regularly reading the Bible and attends mass.