Cisalpine Republic

Repubblica Cisalpina Cisalpine Republic Puppet state of First French Republic ←   ←   ← 1797–1802 → The flag of the Cisalpine Republic was the Transpadane vertical Italian tricolour, with the square shape of the Cispadane flag. Northern Italy in 1796; the duchies of Milan, Mantua, Modena were merged into the Cisalpine Republic, along with the Papal Legations (here labelled Papal States) and parts of Piedmont and the Venetian Republic. Capital Milan Language(s) Italian Government Directorial Republic Directory  - 1797–98 First Directory  - 1798–99 Second Directory Legislature Legislative Council  - Upper house Council of Elders  - Lower house Council of Juniors Historical era Napoleonic Wars  - Decree of Napoleon Bonaparte June 29, 1797  - Treaty of Campo Formio October 17, 1797  - Occupied by Austria April 27, 1799  - Restored by France June 2, 1800  - Renamed Italian Republic January 26, 1802 Currency Milanese scudo, lira, soldo and denaro

The Cisalpine Republic (Italian: Repubblica Cisalpina) was a French client republic in Northern Italy that lasted from 1797 to 1802.

Birth

After the Battle of Lodi, in May 1796, the French general Napoleon Bonaparte proceeded to organize two states: one on the south of the Po River, the Cispadane Republic, and one on the north, the Transpadane Republic. On May 19, 1797, Napoleon transferred the territories of former Duchy of Modena to Transpadania and, on Messidor 12 (June 29), he wrote a decree proclaiming the birth of the Cisalpine Republic, creating the Directory of the Republic and appointing the ministers. France published the Constitution of the new republic on Messidor 20 (July 7), establishing the division of the territory in 11 departments: Adda (Lodi), Alpi Apuane (Massa), Crostolo (Reggio), Lario (Como), Montagna (Lecco), Olona (Milan), Panaro (Modena), Po (Cremona), Serio (Bergamo), Ticino (Pavia), Verbano (Varese).

The rests of Cispadania were merged into the Cisalpine Republic on July 27, with the capital of the unified State put in Milan. On Brumaire 1 (October 22) Bonaparte announced the union of Valtelline with the republic, after its secession from the Swiss Three Grey Leagues. Austria had acknowledged the new entity in the Treaty of Campoformio of October 17, gaining in exchange what remained of the Venetian Republic. On Brumaire 25 (November 15) the full international recognization and legality of the new State was ratified by the law about the final annexation of the conquered territories.

The parliament, composed by two chambers (the Great Council and the Council of the Seniors), was appointed directly by Napoleon on Frimaire 1 (November 21), justifying this anti-democratic action by the state of war. New departments joined the 11 original ones and Valtelline in the following months: Benaco (Desenzano) on Ventose 11 (March 1, 1798), Mella (Brescia) on Floreal 13 (May 2), Mincio (Mantua) on Prairial 7 (May 26), and five departments in Emilia. The building phase of the republic was closed on Fructidor 14 (August 31), when France dismissed all the authorities of the republic, replacing them by a stronger executive power under a new Constitution.

Institutional form

The Cisalpine Republic was from many years under the domination of the House of Austria.
The French Republic succeeded to it for right of conquest. It renounces to it by this day, and the Cisalpine Republic is free and independent. Recognized by France and by the Emperor, it will be as same by all Europe soon.
The Executive directory of the French Republic, not contented with having spent its influence and the victories of the republican armies to ensure the political existence of the Cisalpine Republic, pushes more faraway its promptnesses; and being convinced, that if liberty is the first of the goods, a revolution drags behind itself the worst of all the scourges, gives to the cisalpine people its constitution, that is the result of the knowledges of the most enlightened nation.
From the militar regime the cisalpine people must therefore pass to a constitutional regime.
In order that this passage shall be done without shakes, without anarchy, the Executive directory judged having only this time to appoint the members of the government, and of the legislative branch: so that the people won't appoint until a year to the vacant places accordingly to the constitution.
Really from many years no republics existed in Italy. The holy fire of the liberty was stifled, and the most beautiful part of Europe lived subject to the yoke of the strangers. It's up to the Cisalpine Republic to show to the world with its wisdom and energy, and with the good organization of its armies, that modern Italy had not degenerated, and that it is still worthy of the freedom.
Signed, Bonaparte.

—Preamble to the Constitution of the Cisalpine Republic, Messidor 20, year V (July 7, 1797).

The institutions of the new republic were much similar to those of France. The territory was divided in departments, which elected the judges of peace, the magistrates and the electors, one in every 200 people having right of vote. The latter elected two councils: the Consiglio dei Seniori ("Council of the Seniors") and the Gran Consiglio ("Great Council"). The first was initially composed by forty to sixty members, and approved the laws and variations to the Constitutional Chart. The second had initially from eighty to one hundred twenty members, and proposed the laws. Both councils discussed treaties, the choice of a Directory and the determination of tributes. The legislative corps included men like Pietro Verri, Giuseppe Parini and the scientist Alessandro Volta. The electors had to be owners or rich people.

The Directory included five directors and represented the executive power: leaders were local politicians like Gian Galeazzo Serbelloni, the first president. The Directory choosed its secretary, and appointed the six ministers: for Justice, for War, for Foreign Affairs, for Interior Affairs, for Police and for Finances. The supreme authority, however, was the commander of the French troops. The republic also adopted the French Republican Calendar.

Each department had its own local directory of five members, as the communes between 3,000 and 100,000 inhabitants. The biggest communes were divided in many municipalities, with a central joint commission to face to the general affairs of the cities. The smallest communes were united in districts with a single municipality, even if each commune had its own municipal agent.

Second Constitution

General Brune tried a golpe in autumn 1798

The first Constitution did not have a long life. On Fructidor 14, year VI (August 31, 1798), the French ambassador Claude-Joseph Trouvé (who was only thirty years old) dismissed the Directory, and the next day he promulgated the new Constitution, with a stronger executive power.

The departments numbered eleven again, now with a bigger extension: Olona (Milan), Alto Pò (Cremona), Serio (Bergamo), Adda and Oglio (Morbegno), Mella (Brescia), Mincio^[1] (Mantua), Panaro (Modena), Crostolo (Reggio), Reno (Bologna), Basso Pò (Ferrara), Rubicone (Forlì). The local directories was reduced to three members, and the municipalities of the communes between 3,000 and 10,000 inhabitants were disbanded.

Trouvé appointed the new Directory, which had stronger powers, and the new parliament, always composed by two councils: the Anziani ("Elders") and the Giuniori ("Youngers"). The first was composed by forty elected members together with the former directors. The second had eighty members.

A new coup d'etat, attempted by the French general Guillaume Marie Anne Brune the next autumn, was disavowed by the French Directory on Frimaire 17 (December 7).

Directors

The first Directory of the Republic was appointed by Napoleon the same day of the proclamation of the birth of the State, on Messidor 12, year V (June 29, 1797).

• Giovanni Galeazzo Serbelloni (resigned)
• Marco Alessandri
• Giovanni Costabili
• Pietro Moscati (resigned)
• Giovanni Paradisi (resigned)
  • Giovanni Battista Savoldi (substituted for Serbelloni from November 23, 1797)
  • Jacopo Lamberti (substituted for Moscati from April 16, 1798)
  • Carlo Testi (substituted for Paradisi from April 16, 1798)

The second Directory of the Republic was appointed by Trouvé the same day of the proclamation of the second Constitution, on Fructidor 14, year VI (August 31, 1798).

• Girolamo Adelasio (dismissed by General Brune on October 17, restored by France on December 14)
• Marco Alessandri (2nd term) (resigned)
• Jacopo Lamberti (2nd term)
• Giuseppe Luosi (dismissed by General Brune on October 17, restored by France on December 14)
• Fedele Sopransi (dismissed by General Brune on October 17, restored by France on December 14)
  • Antonio Sabbati (under Brune's nomination from October 17 to December 14)
  • Antonio Smancini (under Brune's nomination from October 17 to December 14)
  • Vincenzo Brunetti (under Brune's nomination from October 17 to December 14)
  • Ferdinando Marescalchi (substituted for Alessandri from March 20, 1799)
  • Fedele Vertemate Franchi

On Germinal 21, year VII (April 10, 1799) the Directory received special powers facing the Austrian and Russian invasion after the formation of the Second Coalition. The next day, a Militar Committee, a Finance Committee and a Committee of Public Health were established. On Floreal 7 (April 26) the order of evacuation of the Legislative Council was given. On April 29, 1799, the Austrian rule was restored and the Directory abolished.

The treaty of Alliance

Formally, the Cisalpine Republic was an independent state allied with France, but the treaty of alliance stated the effective subalternity of the new republic to its ally. The French in fact had the control of the local police, and left an army consisting of 25,000 Frenchmen, paid by the republic. The Cisalpines had also to form another army of 35,000 men to take part in the French campaigns.

On March 4, 1798, the Directory presented the treaty to the Great Council for ratification. The council did not agree with terms, and took its time before take a decision. In the end the French general Berthier compelled the members to accept it. The Seniors instead refused it since the very beginning, as the new state had not the money to face the conditions requested. Berthier threatened to impose a military government, but later was replaced by general Brune. The latter, after changing some Seniors and Juniors, obtained the signing of the treaty on June 8.

Relations with Switzerland

The new government aimed to unite all Italian lands into a single state. This fact created tensions with Switzerland, which included Italian-speaking areas south of the Alps. On October 10, 1797, the French supported a revolt in Valtelline. The Cisalpine Republic ended up taking control of Campione d'Italia and the Valtellina from Grisons and joined the republic. A Cisalpine attempt to conquer Lugano by surprise failed in 1797.

The second Republic

30 soldi coin (equal to 1½ lira) of the Cisalpine Republic, 1801

The Republic was dissolved after the defeats of France against the Second Coalition in April 1799. It was occupied by General Suvurov's Russian and Austrian forces, which appointed a Provisional Administration led by the Imperial Commission of the Mantuan Count Luigi Cocastelli. They departed only on May 30, 1800, just few days before Napoleon won the Battle of Marengo.

The Cisalpine Republic was so restored by Napoleon on Prairial 15, year VIII (June 4, 1800). On Prairial 28 (June 17) the First Consul appointed an Extraordinary Commission of Government of nine members, and a legislative Consulta: the final list of the executive and legislative institutions was published on Messidor 5 (June 24). On Messidor 16 (July 6) all the acts issued during the Austrian occupation were annulled, and afterwards the tricolour flag was restored.

Napoleon's new victories gave him the possibility to stabilize the political situation of all northern Italy. On Vendemiaire 3, year IX (September 25), the powers of the Extraordinary Commission were concentrated in the hands of a more restricted Commettee of Government, composed by three members: Giovan Battista Sommariva, Sigismondo Ruga and Francesco Visconti, reflecting the institution of the French Consulate. On Vendemiaire 21 (October 13), owing to the refuse of the escaped King Charles Emmanuel IV of Savoy to sign a treaty of peace settling the situation of the occupied Piedmont, Napoleon ordered the annexation of Novara to the republic, shifting its western border from Ticino to Sesia River. After the surrender of Austria and the signature of the Treaty of Lunéville of February 9, 1801, the territory of the republic was extended on the eastern side too, placing the frontier with the Empire on the Adige River without the exceptions agreed in Campo Formio. On Floreal 23 (May 13), the territory of the republic was divided in 12 departments, adding Agogna (Novara), restoring Lario and abolishing Adda-e-Oglio.

Consulta of the République cisalpine to receive the First Consul, 26 January 1802, Nicolas-André Monsiau, 1806–08

On Brumaire 21, year X (November 12) an Extraordinary Cisalpine Consulta was summoned in Lyon. In January 1802, the Consulta decided to change the name of the State into Italian Republic, when Napoleon had himself elected president, on January 24, on the advice of Talleyrand. Two days later, in the scene officially commemorated by Monsiau, Bonaparte appeared in the Collège de la Trinité of Lyon, attended by Murat, Berthier, Louis Bonaparte, Hortense and Joséphine de Beauharnais, heard the assembled notables acclaiming the Italian Republic. On Pluviose 21 (February 10) the new constitutional government was proclaimed in Milan by Sommariva and Ruga. The same day, the Gregorian calendar was restored.

Sources

● Historical database of Lombard laws (it.)

Notes

1. ^ The Constitution was written so fast that the department of Mincio was erroneously summoned as Milano.

See also

• French client republic
• Cisalpine Gaul
• Italian Republic

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