Austria's Historical Rule Over Venice: Exploring The Past

The Republic of Venice, which had existed for approximately 1,100 years, was dissolved in 1797 by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Habsburg Monarchy. The territory was then ceded to Austria by the Treaty of Campo Formio, marking the start of Austrian rule in Venice. However, this rule was short-lived as Venice returned to French control in 1805. In 1815, following the fall of Napoleon, Venice was once again placed under Austrian rule as part of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. This period of Austrian domination saw the implementation of various administrative changes, improvements in primary education and bureaucracy, and the construction of a railway bridge in 1846, which increased trade and tourism. However, Austrian rule in Venice was met with resistance, and the city was a centre of the revolutions that swept across Europe in 1848, with Venetians seeking independence from the Habsburgs. The Austrian forces eventually bombarded Venice, leading to its surrender in August 1849. In 1866, following their defeat by the Prussians, the Austrians relinquished control, and Venice was allowed to join the unified Kingdom of Italy.

Venice was ceded to Austria by Napoleon in 1797

The Republic of Venice was ceded to Austria by Napoleon in 1797, ending approximately 1,100 years of its existence.

In 1796, the French general Napoleon Bonaparte was sent by the newly formed French Republic to confront Austria, as part of the Italian front of the French Revolutionary Wars. He chose to go through Venice, which was officially neutral. The Venetians reluctantly allowed the formidable French army to enter their country. However, the French began supporting Jacobin revolutionaries within Venice, and the Venetian senate began quiet preparations for war. The Venetian armed forces were depleted and no match for the French or even a local uprising. After the capture of Mantua on 2 February 1797, the French called for revolution among the territories of Venice. By 13 March, there was open revolt, with Brescia and Bergamo breaking away.

On 25 April, Napoleon threatened to declare war on Venice unless it democratised. The Venetian Senate acceded to numerous demands but, facing increasing rebellion and the threat of foreign invasion, it abdicated in favour of a transitional government of Jacobins (and thus the French). On 12 May, Ludovico Manin, the last doge of Venice, formally abolished the Most Serene Republic of Venice.

The French and the Austrians had already secretly agreed on 17 April in the Treaty of Leoben that in exchange for providing Venice to Austria, France would receive Austria's holdings in the Netherlands. On 28 October, Venice voted to accept the terms. The French then proceeded to loot Venice, stealing or sinking the entire Venetian Navy and destroying much of the Venetian Arsenal.

On 18 January 1798, the Austrians took control of Venice and ended the plunder. Austria's control was short-lived, however, as Venice would be back under French control by 1805. It then returned to Austrian hands in 1815 as the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia until its incorporation into the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.

Austria's exploitation of Venice for raw materials

Under Austrian rule, Venice was systematically exploited financially, economically, and politically. Austria used Venice as a source of raw materials to fuel the Habsburg economy, taking 45,000,000 more Austrian lire from the region than it spent by 1845. This exploitation impeded the growth of Venetian capitalism, as the Austrian bureaucracy refused to grant credit to progressive entrepreneurs.

The Austrian domination also fueled agitation for independence, with Venetians demanding complete separation from Austria. This led to a revolutionary tide in 1848-1849, during which Daniele Manin played a pivotal role in the transition from legal struggle to outright revolt. The Venetian assembly, guided by Manin, eventually chose to fight for independence, but they were unable to withstand the Austrian boycott and bombardment, and Venice fell back under Austrian rule in August 1849.

Venetians revolted against Austrian rule in 1848

In 1797, Napoleon ceded Venetia, including the city of Venice, to Austria. This was confirmed at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Initially, the Austrians promised the Venetians eventual home rule, but they soon reneged on this pledge when it became clear that the Venetians would not settle for anything less than complete separation.

Austrian rule was financially, economically, and politically detrimental to the Venetians. Austria used Venetia as a source of raw materials for the Hapsburg economy, and the region's finances suffered as a result. By 1845, Austria was taking 45 million more Austrian lire from the region than it spent.

Towards the end of the 1840s, a diverse group of Venetians, including intellectuals, manufacturers, bankers, merchants, and agrarians, accelerated the clamor for political change and greater economic opportunities. This set the stage for the revolution of 1848-1849.

On March 22, 1848, Daniele Manin, along with a group of public-spirited Venetians, entered Venice's great navy yard and munitions depot, in a daring challenge to the Austrian authorities. Manin and his supporters moved about unharmed, as the Italian workers detested the Austrian overseers. Manin led his followers out of the compound with the cry, "Long Live St. Mark!", which was accepted by the Venetians to mean the restoration of the Venetian republic.

Venetia's seven provinces, except Verona, immediately sided with the lagoon and threw off Austrian rule. The new regime acclaimed Manin as president and endowed him with dictatorial authority. Manin prudently provided for the lower-class needs while promising the bourgeoisie to enforce law and order strictly. The appearance of the Venetian republic was a remarkable achievement, with nearly 2,000,000 people rallying behind it.

However, Manin's leadership was also a source of weakness, as the fate of the revolution rested heavily on his shoulders. The Venetians made several strategic miscalculations, such as allowing the Austrian fleet stationed at Pola a privileged sanctuary. This, along with their failure to recruit a strong enough military force, ultimately led to their defeat.

On July 4, 1848, the Venetian assembly, guided by Manin, abandoned the republic and merged Venetia into Charles Albert's Kingdom of Northern Italy. In early October, Manin crushed the Mazzinians, who wanted to compel the new French republic to intervene and rescue the Venetians. When Piedmont's Vincenzo Gioberti invited the Venetian republic to send delegates to a federal congress, the Venetian ministers declined.

On April 2, 1849, the Venetian assembly chose to continue fighting against the Austrians. However, the deadly Austrian boycott and bombardment of the lagoon took their toll. Citizens faced starvation and cholera, and on August 27, 1849, Manin negotiated the surrender of Venice, marking the complete submission of Venetia to Austrian rule once again.

Austria's rule ended in 1866

Austrian rule in northern Italy ended in 1866, following the Third Italian War of Independence. The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, a constituent land of the Austrian Empire, was dissolved when its remaining territory was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. This marked the end of Austrian rule in the region, which had lasted for over 50 years.

The Kingdom of Italy's victory over Austria in the Third Italian War of Independence was a significant turning point in the unification of Italy, as it brought an end to Austrian dominance in the north of the country. The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia had been created in 1815 by resolution of the Congress of Vienna, recognising the Austrian Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty's rights to the former Duchy of Milan and the former Republic of Venice. It was ruled in personal union by the Habsburg Emperor of Austria and included the regions of Lombardy and Venetia, which were officially declared separate crown lands in 1851.

Austrian rule in Lombardy–Venetia faced significant challenges, particularly due to the rise of Italian nationalism and the unification movement (Risorgimento). There were several revolts and uprisings against Austrian rule during this period, most notably the popular revolution of 1848 known as the "Five Days of Milan", which resulted in the Austrians temporarily fleeing from Milan. However, Austrian forces under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky ultimately regained control of Milan and Venice in 1849, restoring Austrian rule.

The Kingdom of Italy, which had been proclaimed in 1861, sought to unify the Italian peninsula and end foreign control of Italian territories. The Third Italian War of Independence was a key conflict in this process, as it led to the defeat of Austria and the incorporation of Lombardy–Venetia into the Kingdom of Italy. This marked a significant shift in the balance of power in the region and was a major step towards the creation of a unified Italian state.

The end of Austrian rule in Lombardy–Venetia was a pivotal moment in the history of Italy and had lasting repercussions for both countries. It marked the conclusion of a long period of Austrian influence and domination in northern Italy and was a significant step towards the realisation of Italian nationalism and unification.

Venice did not prosper under Austrian rule

The Republic of Venice, which had existed for approximately 1,100 years, was dissolved and dismembered by French General Napoleon Bonaparte and the Habsburg Monarchy on 12 May 1797. Napoleon had been sent by the newly formed French Republic to confront Austria as part of the Italian front of the French Revolutionary Wars. While the French had initially covertly supported Jacobin revolutionaries within Venice, they soon began to overtly call for revolution among the territories of Venice. This resulted in open revolt, with Brescia and Bergamo breaking away.

On 25 April 1797, Napoleon threatened to declare war on Venice unless it democratised. The Venetian Senate acceded to numerous demands, but ultimately abdicated in favour of a transitional government of Jacobins. On 12 May, Ludovico Manin, the last doge of Venice, formally abolished the Most Serene Republic of Venice.

The French and the Austrians had already secretly agreed to hand over Venice to Austria in exchange for France receiving Austria's holdings in the Netherlands. On 28 October, Venice voted to accept these terms, preferring Austrian rule over French, which had resulted in the looting of the city and the destruction of the Venetian Navy and Venetian Arsenal.

On 18 January 1798, the Austrians took control of Venice and ended the plunder. However, Austrian rule was short-lived, as Venice returned to French control by 1805. It then returned to Austrian hands in 1815 as the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, which was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire.

During this period, a dynamic amalgam of intellectuals, urban-based manufacturers, bankers, merchants, and provincial agrarians accelerated the clamor for political change and greater economic openings, although using non-violent means. This eventually led to the creation of the Venetian Republic, which was short-lived, lasting from March 1848 until the surrender of Venice in April 1849.

In summary, Venice did not prosper under Austrian rule due to financial and economic exploitation, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the suppression of political and economic freedoms. The Austrian rule fueled agitation for independence, which culminated in the short-lived Venetian Republic of 1848-49.

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