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

Lombardy and Veneto, united under the House of Habsburg, took the name of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. This fueled the illusion that the two great regions of Northern Italy could embark on a regime of autonomy and fruitful civil development, according to the Habsburg traditions. The Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia was divided into two governments: Milan and Venice, each governed by a governor. The Viceroy represented the Emperor and resided in Milan. Each government was divided into provinces, each province into districts and municipalities.

Citizens were represented in local government by two central congregations, one based in Milan, the other in Venice.

Despite the existence of these local government bodies, the bureaucratic centralization characteristic of the Habsburg Empire was extended to Lombardy-Venetia, so that decision-making power was firmly held by the imperial chancelleries in Vienna.

In Lombardy-Venetia, Austria ensured that nothing would disturb the absolute regime; when patriotic plots were discovered, the Austrian authorities intervened without excessive repression, but the gallows and prisons still had their victims.