The ideals of 1789 (French revolution). No concept of national sovereignty in Italy. The French Enlightenment idea that the people were sovereign did not percolate into the Italian mind.

The war between revolutionary France and Prussian monarchies had an ideological element well enshrined in the new pre-romantic sensitivity.

Vittorio Amedeo repels a French offensive in 1794. However, two years later (1796) Italy is invaded by a French army led by a young general, named Napoleone Bonaparte (Corsica).

He defeats the Piedmontese and the Austrians. He enters Milan, Bologna and Verona. Napoleon appointed Italian ministers and a constitution was granted as a consequence of the establishment of an elected assembly. The Italian professional classes looked at this favourably.

The sad story of the independent republic of Venice. Since the Venetians had in the past antagonized both Napoleon and Austria, France declared war on Venice (May 1 1797). After managing to convince the Venetians to dismantle their millenary institutions Napoleon in October signed a peace with the Austrians (Campoformio) placing the ancient city under Austrian rule in exchange for Austria’s Belgian provinces. (Talk about Foscolo and post “I sepolcri”).

The Egyptian expedition of Napoleon. The “triennio” (1796-1799) marked the rise of democratic hopes for the establishment of a republic. Vittorio Alfieri and the term “Risorgimento” (distinction to be made with “Rinascimento”.

The fight between Napoleon and England in the Mediterranean involving the King of Naples Ferdinand (1798) who took the offensive against the French and briefly occupied Rome. But the French regrouped, took Naples and the Pro-French Jacobins established a Parthenopean republic. The Jacobins, however, failed to secure the loyalty of the “lazzaroni”, the poorest people of Naples. The counter-revolutionary army of Cardinal Ruffo re-took Naples and massacred the middle class Jacobins.

In the last days of 1799 Napoleon proclaims himself First Consul, a de facto dictatorial position (parlare un po’ dell’iconografia della Roma repubblicana nella rivoluzione francese e, prima, in quella Americana [pileo, fasci, personificazione della liberta’]). In 1800 he re-invades Northern Italy that had briefly been re-taken by the Austrians. Napoleon wins his victory at Marengo in 1800. CREATION OF THE “ITALIAN REPUBLIC”. Napoleon took the formal title of president.

When he proclaimed himself Emperor all the Republics that had been founded everywhere in the wake of the strong libertarian sentiment aroused by Napoleon were converted into kingdoms. Kingdom of Italy. Napoleon was its king. All the officials were Italians except for the viceroy, Eugene de Beauharnais. Story of Napoleon III. (He was the son of Eugene’s sister Hortense and Napoleon’s brother Louis.)

Napoleon’s somewhat acquiescent relationship with the Vatican at the time of the Directory in Paris eventually led him to consent to the captivity of pope Pius VI in France (Valence) in 1799. In fact, Napoleon asked his successor Pius VII to crown him in Paris in May 1804.

The French “Concordat”. Pius VII hesitated because his visit might have been interpreted as a blessing to the Revolution. He finally showed up in September to be treated with contempt by Napoleon but with euphoria by the Parisian mob.

Pros and cons of the Napoleonic era. The