The Republic of Bergamo (Italian: ''Repubblica Bergamasca'') was an ephemeral revolutionary client republic, created on 13 March 1797 by the

French army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

to rule the local administration of Bergamo and its province, during the

dissolution Dissolution may refer to: Arts and entertainment Books * ''Dissolution'' (''Forgotten Realms'' novel), a 2002 fantasy novel by Richard Lee Byers * ''Dissolution'' (Sansom novel), a 2003 historical novel by C. J. Sansom Music * Dissolution, in mu ...

of the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...

. With the Preliminary of Leoben, France and Austria agreed the end of the multi-centennial Venetian rule over the territory between

Adda River The Adda (Latin ''Abdua'', or ''Addua''; in Lombard ''Ada'' or, again, ''Adda'' in local dialects where the double consonants are marked) is a river in North Italy, a tributary of the Po. It rises in the Alps near the border with Switzerlan ...

and Oglio River, together with the Austrian occupation of Istria and Dalmatia. Defined as ''"mother-municipality"'', the administration of the city of Bergamo had to help the creation of ''"dependent-municipalities"'' in all the surrounding county. The Republic so became one of the constituent countries of the

Cisalpine Republic The Cisalpine Republic ( it, Repubblica Cisalpina) was a sister republic of France in Northern Italy that existed from 1797 to 1799, with a second version until 1802. Creation After the Battle of Lodi in May 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte organiz ...

, established on 29 June 1797.

Establishment of the
Revolutionary Republic A revolutionary republic is a form of government whose main tenets are popular sovereignty, rule of law, and representative democracy. It is based in part on the ideas of Whig and Enlightenment thinkers, and was favored by revolutionaries dur ...

The French troops under General Bareguey entered Bergamo on Christmas Day of 1796, without a fight, according to the Venetian

podestà Podestà (, English: Potestate, Podesta) was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of Central and Northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a city ...

, Count Ottolini, who had agreed to the withdrawal of the Venetian troops. On 12 March 1797 was proclaimed the Republic of Bergamo. Ottolini, threatened with arrest, left for Brescia, while the new municipality was being elected, consisting of 24 persons, who also established a semblance of an army. Two days later the Republic voted to be annexed to the

Cispadane Republic The Cispadane Republic () was a short-lived client republic located in northern Italy, founded in 1796 with the protection of the French army, led by Napoleon Bonaparte. In the following year, it was merged with the Transpadane Republic (former ...

, and the arms of Venice were removed from the doors of the Venetian walls. The tree of liberty was erected in Piazza Vecchia, as well as in the districts.

The Constitution of 24 March

On 24 March the Constitution of the Republic of Bergamo was approved. The new administration included the division of territory into cantons supra. Every territory that wanted to become a town, should have reunited its citizens in a church, under the authority of the priest, and they named a congressman. These, together with the other congressmen of the towns of Cantone, nominated three permanent members of the municipalities of the cantone. Once convened in Bergamo, they should indicate their acceptance of new administrative bodies, bringing the list of representatives of municipalities. The Municipality of Bergamo was formed by twenty-four states. On 17 April 1797, wheat rallies general, men with power to vote in every church gathered to elect their representatives.

Subdivision of land

The republic was divided into 14 cantons, which were divided into towns: * City of Bergamo * Canton of Almenno * Canton of Alzano * Canton of Calepio * Canton of Caprino * Canton of Clusone * Canton of Endine * Canton of Gandino * Canton of Martinengo or Bolgare; Calcinate; Cavernago; Cividate; Cortenuova; Fara Olivana; Ghisalba; Malpaga; Martinengo; Mornico; Palosco; Romano Telgate * Canton of Piazza * Canton of Ponte * Canton of Seriate * Canton of Verdello or Albegno; Arcene; Bariano; Boltiere; Ciserano; Cologno; Colognola; Comun Nuovo; Curnasco; Grumello del Piano; Lallio, Levate, Lurano, Mariano, Morengo; Osio Sopra, Osio Sotto; Pognano; Sabbio; Sforzatica; Sforzatica di Oleno ; Spirano; Stezzano, Treviolo; Verdello Minore; Urgnano; Verdello * Canton of Vilminore * Canton of Zogno

The counter-revolution in the valleys

In the valleys, and especially in Imagna Valley, however, took the form a sort of counter-revolution: the Republic appeared to be anti-religious, and especially in the countries of the charisma of the clergy could keep the population from the Venetians. The revolt was quelled, however, within a month In this area also began to circulate the tale of the exploits of Pacì Paciana the brigand.

Disestablishment

With the Treaty of Campo Formio, after about three months after its establishment, the Republic of Bergamo then entered a part of the Cisalpine Republic as Department of Serio.

References

Sources

*Bortolo Belotti, Banca Popolare di Bergamo ,Storia di Bergamo e dei bergamaschi, Volume 6, Storia di Bergamo e dei bergamaschi *Bortolo Belotti, Edizioni Bolis, 1989, the University of Virginia, 11 Mar {{DEFAULTSORT:Bergamo, Republic of History of Bergamo History of Lombardy 1797 in Italy Client states of the Napoleonic Wars Italian states Bergamo Early Modern Italy Province of Bergamo States and territories established in 1797 States and territories disestablished in 1797 1797 establishments in Italy 1797 disestablishments in Italy Fall of the Republic of Venice

Establishment of the Revolutionary Republic A revolutionary republic is a form of government whose main tenets are popular sovereignty, rule of law, and representative democracy. It is based in part on the ideas of Whig and Enlightenment thinkers, and was favored by revolutionaries dur ...