From the fall of the Venetian Republic to the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia

The revolutionary events of the late 18th century caused, among other things, the fall of the Venetian Republic. It no longer had the military and political strength of the past and was therefore particularly vulnerable to the blows of the Franco-Austrian conflicts of 1796-97.

The territories of the Republic had been freely and repeatedly traversed and occupied by belligerent armies, especially since Venice, having proclaimed unarmed neutrality, was unable to defend them.

Napoleon, already firmly established in Verona, seized upon the pretext of anti-French insurrectionary movements in that and other localities in Veneto to threateningly advance his army toward the lagoon. This move alone was enough to bring about the fall of the old regime, which crumbled without resistance.

In Vicenza, the collapse of the old order occurred on April 26, 1797, when Girolamo Barbaro, the last Governor of the Republic, left the city. The following day, French troops under General La Hoz entered, and their presence triggered the establishment of public institutions inspired by revolutionary doctrines. At the same time, the city was imposed a heavy war tax of 4,000,000 Venetian lire, the first of many others, as well as requisitions of all kinds, in addition to the obligation to provide for the maintenance of the French garrison.

With the Treaty of Campo Formio of October 17, 1797, which sanctioned the disappearance of the Republic of Venice, the Venetian territories, along with Istria and Dalmatia, passed to Austria.