Mussolini was shrewd enough to recognize the value in “pomp & circumstance”. He appropriated or subverted many things to serve as jingoistic symbols - including flags, banners, bunting, and the fasces to instill a sense of national unity.
The unfortunate thing is that he set a precedent that (inappropriately in most cases) gets applied as a stereotype against anyone’s opponents.
Yes, Mussolini did pervert good symbols for the benefit of his corrupt state.
Just as Tolkien complained that Hitler perverted proper heroic northern myths to support the corrupt Nazi state.
And as our southern partisans corrupt the US revolutionary history in an attempt to justify the corrupt confederate pseudo state.