The Treaty of Campo Formio, signed on 17th October 1797, in a small Italian town of the same name, was a pivotal event in European history. Negotiated between France and Austria, the treaty marked a significant turning point in the tumultuous period of the French Revolutionary Wars, redrawing the continent’s map. Whilst many date the end of the Venetian Republic as 12th May, this treaty was the official nail in the republic’s coffin.
The late 18th century was a time of political upheaval in Europe, with the French Revolution at its centre. France, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, had embarked on a quest to expand its revolutionary ideals, sparking conflicts with neighbouring nations. Austria, one of the leading powers of the time, was a formidable adversary.
Napoleon’s relentless advance and victory at the Battle of Würzburg forced Austria to seek an armistice. The subsequent negotiations set the stage for one of the most impactful treaties of the era.
Negotiations and Terms
The negotiations leading to the Treaty of Campo Formio were conducted in an atmosphere of diplomatic intrigue and political manoeuvring. The key terms of the treaty included:
1. Venice’s Fate: The treaty saw the Venetian Republic officially handed over to Austria. This marked the end of Venice’s independence after a remarkable 1,100 years, leaving a rich cultural legacy in the hands of the Habsburg Monarchy.
2. Territorial Changes: The treaty reshaped the map of Europe. Austria ceded the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium) to France and recognised French control over Lombardy, which added to France’s territorial acquisitions during this period.
3. War Reimbursements: Austria agreed to compensate France for the costs of the war and to provide financial support to the French Republic.
4. Recognition of the Cisalpine Republic: The treaty also recognised the Cisalpine Republic, a puppet state of France, as an independent entity in northern Italy.
Impact of the Treaty of Campo Formio
The Treaty of Campo Formio had several profound consequences:
1. Dissolution of the First Coalition: The treaty marked the dissolution of the First Coalition, a group of European states allied against revolutionary France. This development highlighted the effectiveness of French military and diplomatic strategies.
2. Napoleon’s Rise to Prominence: The treaty elevated Napoleon’s status both within France and on the European stage. It reinforced his reputation as a brilliant military commander and a shrewd diplomat.
3. Territorial Reshuffling: The territorial changes set in motion by Campo Formio significantly redrew the map of Europe and foreshadowed the Napoleonic era’s territorial adjustments.
4. Impact on Venice: Venice’s fate was one of the most poignant outcomes of the treaty. After over a millennium of independence, the city became part of the Habsburg Empire, later to be returned to French control and then incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1805.
5. Ongoing Instability: While the treaty marked a brief pause in hostilities between France and Austria, the peace was short-lived. The Second Coalition was formed the following year, and Europe remained embroiled in conflict.
Later history
Venice became part of Napoleon’s Kingdom of Italy in 1805, but the Austrians regained control after his defeat in 1814.
Although the Austrians built the railway connecting Venice to the mainland, ushering in a new era of prosperity, they were deeply unpopular. This resentment led to a rebellion in 1848, when Venetians staged a general strike and raised a militia of 4,000 men, briefly expelling the Austrians.
The Republic of San Marco declared independence in March 1848, but a year later, the Austrians returned. Their navy besieged the city, and after months of starvation and a cholera epidemic, Venice surrendered.
It wasn’t until Victor Emanuele II’s forces drove out the Austrians during the wars of Italian unification that Venice finally joined the Kingdom of Italy, formalised by the Treaty of Vienna.
