Leslie Massey
The history of Venice is a complex one, with the city experiencing several changes in power dynamics over the centuries. In the 18th century, Venice was a neutral party in the French Revolutionary Wars between France and Austria. However, in 1796, Napoleon's army entered Venice, covertly supporting revolutionaries and ultimately leading to open revolt in 1797. This marked the end of Venice's independence, with Napoleon taking revenge on the city for not siding with him earlier. The 19th century saw a power struggle between Austria and France for dominion over Venice, with the city changing hands multiple times. In 1815, following the fall of the Napoleonic Empire, Venice was returned to Austria as part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia and remained under Austrian rule until it was ceded to France in 1866, which then handed it over to the Kingdom of Italy in the same year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Period of Austrian rule | 1815-1866 |
| Kingdom | Lombardy–Venetia |
| Part of | Austrian Empire |
| Comprised | Two independent governments |
| Population (as of 1855) | 5,024,117 |
| Ethnic groups (as of 1855) | Italians (Lombard-Venetians), Friulians, Germans (Cimbrians in Venetia), Slovenians, Jews |
| Administrative language | Italian |
| Ruled by | Emperor Francis I (1815-1835), Emperor Franz Joseph I (1848-1866) |
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What You'll Learn
Venice was part of the Austrian Empire from 1815 to 1866
The Republic of Venice fell following the French Revolution and the subsequent French Revolutionary Wars, which pitted the First French Republic against the monarchies of Europe. In 1796, Napoleon entered Venice, which was officially neutral, to confront Austria. The French began supporting Jacobin revolutionaries within Venice, and by 13 March 1797, there was an open revolt. Napoleon signed a preliminary armistice with the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor on 17 April 1797, and in the secret annexes of the treaty, the territories of the Terraferma were conceded to the Habsburg empire.
In 1805, Venice was under French control, but it returned to Austrian hands in 1815 as the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. This kingdom was created by resolution 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 of Lombardy–Venetia was ruled by Emperor Francis I from 1815 until his death in 1835. The Austrian emperor was represented day-to-day by viceroys appointed by the Imperial Court in Vienna and resident in Milan and Venice.
In 1848, Venice headed the long list of cities that revolted against the established powers in Europe. On 22 March 1848, there was a popular revolution known as the "Five Days of Milan", after which the Austrians fled from Milan. The next day, Venice also rose against Austrian rule, forming the Governo Provvisorio di Venezia (Venice Provisional Government). However, Austrian forces under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky defeated the Sardinian troops at the Battle of Custoza, and once again restored Austrian rule in Venice on 24 August 1849.
The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was finally dissolved in 1866 when its remaining territory was incorporated into the recently proclaimed Kingdom of Italy following the kingdom's victory against Austria in the Third Italian War of Independence. The territory of Venetia and Mantua was formally transferred from Austria to France, and then handed over to Italy on 19 October 1866.
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Napoleon conquered Venice in 1797
The Republic of Venice fell in May 1797 when Napoleon Bonaparte, the French general, and the Habsburg Monarchy dissolved it, bringing an end to 1,100 years of its existence. This marked the conclusion of Napoleon's Italian campaign of 1796-1797, which took place before the War of the First Coalition formally ended in October.
In 1796, Napoleon, having been sent by the newly formed French Republic, went through Venice to confront Austria as part of the Italian front of the French Revolutionary Wars. The Venetians, who were officially neutral, had little choice but to allow the French army to enter their country. However, the French began to support Jacobin revolutionaries within Venice, and the Venetian senate started to quietly prepare for war. The Venetian armed forces were no match for the French, and by 13 March 1797, there was an 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 his demands, but facing increasing rebellion, it abdicated in favour of a transitional government of Jacobins. On 12 May 1797, 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 France would receive Austria's holdings in exchange for Venice.
Napoleon organised the Cisalpine Republic in Italy and became its president. He later proclaimed himself Emperor of France and King of the Kingdom of Italy. By the Treaty of Campo Formio in October 1797, Venice became part of the Austrian Empire. Napoleon regained power over Venice in 1805 and placed his brother Joseph Bonaparte as its head in 1806. However, in 1814, Napoleon was defeated, and Venice was returned to Austria under the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.
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The French and Austrians fought for dominion over Venice
In 1796, the young general Napoleon entered Venice, which was officially neutral, to confront Austria as part of the Italian front of the French Revolutionary Wars. While there, Napoleon covertly supported Jacobin revolutionaries within Venice, and the Venetian Senate began quiet preparations for war. The Venetians were reluctant to allow Napoleon's formidable army into their country, but they did so to enable Napoleon to confront Austria. However, the French occupiers soon began to interfere with the Venetian forces that intended to retake control of the cities of Venetian Lombardy. Napoleon even threatened to declare war on Venice unless it democratised.
In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice, and the city came under the rule of the Austrian Empire by the Treaty of Campo Formio. The French and the Austrians had secretly agreed to exchange Venice for Austria's holdings in the Netherlands. The French proceeded to loot Venice, and a pro-French municipal government was put in place.
In 1805, Napoleon regained power over Venice from the Austrians by the Treaty of Pressburg, and it became part of the Kingdom of Italy. However, in 1814, Napoleon was defeated, and Venice was returned to Austria under the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, which was created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna. This kingdom was ruled by the Habsburg Emperor of Austria and included the former Republic of Venice, which had been under Austrian rule intermittently since the 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio.
In 1848, Venice rose against Austrian rule, forming a provisional government. Austrian forces under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky defeated the Sardinian troops at the Battle of Custoza and once again restored Austrian rule in 1849. However, in 1859, after the Second Italian War of Independence, Austria ceded Lombardy to the French Emperor Napoleon III by the Treaty of Zurich. Finally, in 1866, the remaining territory of Venetia was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy, bringing an end to Austrian rule in the region.
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Venice revolted against Austrian rule in 1848
The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire from 1815 to 1866. The region was created in 1815 by 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.
Venice was part of the Austrian Empire until 1866, except for a brief period from 1805 to 1815 when it was under French control. However, in 1848, Venice revolted against Austrian rule. This revolt was part of the broader Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire, which took place from March 1848 to November 1849. The revolutions were driven by nationalist sentiments and resistance to the Empire's longstanding conservatism.
On 22 March 1848, Daniele Manin, along with a group of Venetians, entered the arsenal, challenging the Austrian authorities. Manin led his followers out of the compound with the cry, "Long Live St. Mark!", which was interpreted as a call for the restoration of the Venetian republic. The Venetian provinces, except for Verona, quickly sided with the revolt. The Austrian forces, led by Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky, were unable to suppress the Venetian and Milanese insurgents and were forced to evacuate.
A provisional government was formed in Venice on 23 March 1848, known as the "Governo Provvisorio di Venezia". However, the Austrian forces regained control of Venice on 24 August 1849, and Austrian rule was once again imposed. The Republic of San Marco, established during the revolt, lasted under siege until 28 August 1849.
The revolution in Venice was influenced by a combination of factors, including civil unrest, economic grievances, and the desire for political change. The Austrian bureaucracy impeded the growth of Venetian capitalism and failed to address the economic needs of the people. The revolutionary sentiments were largely confined to the middle and upper classes, while most of the lower classes remained indifferent or loyal to the Austrian troops.
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The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was ruled by Austria
The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire from 1815 to 1866. It was created by the Congress of Vienna in recognition of the Austrian House of Habsburg-Lorraine's rights to the former Duchy of Milan and the former Republic of Venice. The Duchy of Milan had been ruled by the Habsburg monarchy since 1714, and the Republic of Venice had been under Austrian rule intermittently since the 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio.
The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was first ruled by Emperor Francis I from 1815 until his death in 1835. His son, Ferdinand I, ruled from 1835 to 1848. Although the local administration was Italian in language and staff, the Austrian authorities had to deal with the Italian unification (Risorgimento) movement. After a popular revolution on 22 March 1848, known as the "Five Days of Milan", the Austrians fled from Milan, and the city became the capital of the Lombardy Provisional Government. The next day, Venice also rose against Austrian rule, forming the Venice Provisional Government. However, Austrian forces under Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky defeated the Sardinian troops at the Battle of Custoza and entered Milan and Venice, restoring Austrian rule.
Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria ruled the kingdom for the rest of its existence. The office of viceroy was abolished and replaced by a governor-general, initially assumed by Field Marshal Radetzky. After the Second Italian War of Independence and the defeat at the Battle of Solferino in 1859, Austria had to cede Lombardy to France, which then immediately passed it to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The capital was then relocated to Venice. However, the remaining territory of Venetia and Mantua fell to the Kingdom of Italy in the aftermath of the Third Italian War of Independence, and the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was dissolved in 1866.
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Frequently asked questions
Venice became part of Austria in 1797 after the Treaty of Campo Formio.
Austria lost control of Venice in 1805 when it came under French control.
After the defeat of Napoleon, Venice became part of the Austrian Empire in 1815 as the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia.
