Venice, Austria, And The Complex History Of European Cities

The history of Venice is a complex one, with the city having been fought over by various empires and kingdoms. In 1797, Venice was conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte, bringing an end to three centuries of independence. Following this conquest, the city became a subject of dispute between the French and Austrian empires, with the two powers vying for dominion over the city. As part of the Treaty of Campo Formio, Venice was ceded to the Austrian Empire, becoming part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia in 1815. However, this control was short-lived, as Napoleon regained power over Venice in 1805. The city would continue to exchange hands between the French and Austrian empires until 1866, when it was finally incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy, bringing an end to Austrian rule.

The Venetian Republic was dissolved in 1797 by Napoleon and the Habsburg Monarchy

The Venetian Republic, also known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice, was dissolved in 1797 by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Habsburg Monarchy. This marked the end of approximately 1,100 years of the Republic's 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 1797, 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.

The Treaty of Leoben saw Venice handed to Austria in exchange for the Netherlands

The Treaty of Leoben, also known as the Peace of Leoben, was a provisional agreement between the Holy Roman Empire and the First French Republic, signed on April 17, 1797, in Leoben, Austria. The treaty was signed by General Napoleon Bonaparte on behalf of the French Directory and General Maximilian von Merveldt and the Marquis of Gallo on behalf of Emperor Francis II. It ended the War of the First Coalition and contained nine public articles and eleven secret ones.

The public articles of the treaty stated that the Emperor ceded his "Belgian Provinces" (the Austrian Netherlands). The secret articles, however, revealed that the Emperor also ceded his Italian states (Lombardy) in exchange for the Italian mainland possessions of the Republic of Venice, which had not yet been conquered. This exchange is often simplified to "Venice for the Netherlands."

The Treaty of Leoben left Venice without any allies, and on May 12, 1797, the Venetian Republic was dissolved and dismembered by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Habsburg Monarchy. This ended approximately 1,100 years of the Venetian Republic's existence. While Austria gained control of Venice, its rule was short-lived, as Venice returned to French control in 1805.

In 1815, after the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy collapsed, Venice became part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, which was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire. This kingdom lasted until 1866 when, after the Third Italian War of Independence, the region was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.

Austria's control of Venice was short-lived, with the city returning to French control in 1805

Austria's control of Venice was, indeed, very brief, and this period of Austrian rule is often overlooked or forgotten when considering the rich history of the city. The Austrian presence in Venice can be considered a mere interlude between French occupations. Napoleon's forces had previously occupied Venice in 1797, bringing an end to the historic Republic of Venice, which had endured for over a thousand years. However, in the complex political landscape of early 19th-century Europe, the city would change hands several times.

The Treaty of Campo Formio, signed on October 17, 1797, formally ended the War of the First Coalition (one of the Revolutionary Wars). Under the terms of this treaty, Venice and its territories were ceded to Austria, marking the beginning of Austrian rule in the region. This treaty also contained provisions for a secret agreement between France and Austria, which would further shape the political landscape of Europe.

However, Austrian control of Venice was always going to be tenuous, given the city's history and strong sense of independence. The Austrian administration was not popular, and the city chafed under foreign rule. During this period, Venice was also suffering economically, with its traditional trade networks disrupted by the ongoing political upheaval in Europe. The city's once-thriving port was in decline, and the Austrians struggled to revive its fortunes.

In 1805, just eight years after the Austrian takeover, the War of the Third Coalition (another conflict in the Napoleonic Wars) resulted in a significant shift in power. Napoleon's armies were once again victorious, and the resulting Treaty of Pressburg, signed on December 26, 1805, returned Venice to French control. This treaty ended the brief interlude of Austrian rule and marked a new chapter in the city's history, as it became an integral part of the Kingdom of Italy, with Napoleon himself as its king.

So, while Venice was technically part of the Austrian Empire for a short period, the city's cultural and political identity remained largely untouched by Austrian influence. The French presence, both before and after this Austrian interlude, had a far more significant and lasting impact on the city's history and development.

Venice was returned to Austria in 1815 as the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia

The history of Venice is a complex one, with the city having been fought over by various empires and kingdoms over the centuries. In the 19th century, there was a back-and-forth between Austrian and French rule.

Venice was returned to Austria in 1815 as the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, or the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom. This was a result of the Congress of Vienna, which recognised the Austrian House of Habsburg-Lorraine's rights to the former Duchy of Milan and the former Republic of Venice. The Kingdom was ruled by Emperor Francis I from 1815 until his death in 1835, followed by his son, Ferdinand I, who ruled from 1835 to 1848.

The Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom was a constituent land, or crown land, of the Austrian Empire. While the local administration was Italian in language and staff, the Austrian authorities had to deal with the Italian unification movement, or Risorgimento. The Austrian emperor was represented in day-to-day matters by viceroys appointed by the Imperial Court in Vienna and resident in Milan and Venice. The office of viceroy was later abolished and replaced by a governor-general.

The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia comprised two independent governments, or "Gubernien", in its two parts, which were officially declared separate crown lands in 1851. Each part was further subdivided into several provinces, roughly corresponding with the départements of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. Lombardy included the provinces of Milan, Como, Bergamo, Brescia, Pavia, Cremona, Mantua, Lodi-Crema, and Sondrio. Venetia included the provinces of Venice, Verona, Padua, Vicenza, Treviso, Rovigo, Belluno, and Udine.

The Kingdom only survived for fifty years. In 1859, after the Second Italian War of Independence, the region of Lombardy was ceded to France, which then immediately ceded it to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia was finally dissolved in 1866 when its remaining territory, including Venice, was incorporated into the recently proclaimed Kingdom of Italy following the kingdom's victory against Austria in the Third Italian War of Independence.

In 1866, Venice was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy

The Republic of Venice was dissolved and dismembered by French General Napoleon Bonaparte and the Habsburg Monarchy on May 12, 1797, bringing an end to its approximately 1,100 years of existence. On January 18, 1798, the Austrians took control of Venice, but this was short-lived as the city returned to French control in 1805. In 1815, following Napoleon's defeat, Venice was once again handed over to Austria as part of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia.

Venice was then detached from Lombardy, which had chosen to unify with the Kingdom of Italy. The Venetians revolted against Austrian rule in 1848, forming the Governo Provvisorio di Venezia (Venice Provisional Government). However, Austrian forces under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky defeated the Sardinian troops and restored Austrian rule in Venice in 1849.

Finally, in 1866, the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was dissolved, and its remaining territory, including Venice, was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy following the kingdom's victory against Austria in the Third Italian War of Independence. This ended Austrian rule over Venice, and the Veneto region was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy by a referendum on October 21, 1866, with an overwhelming majority voting in favour of unification.

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