Peace of Bologna, 23 June 1796

The Peace of Bologna (23 June 1796) ended Napoleon's first invasion of the Papal States, carried out to satisfy the French Directory. In June 1796 Napoleon captured Ferrara and Bologna, in the northern Papal States. Pope Pius VI responded to this by requesting an armistice. Napoleon had no interest in conducting a long campaign in central Italy, and imposed relatively generous terms. The French were allowed to occupy Bologna and Ferrara, securing the southern approaches to Mantua, then in the first month of the eight month long siege. The Pope also had to pay 21 millions francs and surrender 100 pictures, 500 manuscripts and busts of Junius and Marcus Brutus, two Republic heroes.

The French Directory was not satisfied with the Peace of Bologna and refused to ratify it until the Pope agreed to revoke a number of Briefs relating to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, one of the key planks of the French Revolution. Pius would not accept these terms, and after the fall of Mantua Napoleon conducted a second campaign against the Papal States. The Peace of Tolentino of 19 February 1797 stripped much more territory from the Pope.

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (3 February 2009), Peace of Bologna, 23 June 1796 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/peace_bologna.html

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