Treaty of Campo Formio

Was the Treaty of Campo Formio on October 17, 1797 between France, represented by Napoléon Bonaparte and Emperor Francis II in his capacity as ruler of the Habsburg lands (due to the Pragmatic Sanction, especially as King of Hungary and Bohemia and Archduke of Austria ) closed. The treaty was named after the city of Campo Formio in today's region of Friuli - Venezia Giulia, in the Austrian army encamped in the contract.

The peace ended the on April 20, 1792 begun by France First Coalition War.

The contract waiving certain of the Emperor on the Austrian Netherlands in favor of France and brought about a reorganization of Northern Italy and the possessions of the Republic of Venice. The Emperor recognized the independence of the Cisalpine Republic and received in return the republic of Venice, together with their possessions to the river Adige, to Istria, Dalmatia and the Bay of Kotor. Included in this was the great Venetian fleet, which was the heart of the young Austrian navy in the following decades. France retained the Lombardy and the Ionian islands of Corfu, Zakynthos and Cephalonia.

France was now for the first time since 1792 in continental Europe in peace. The war with England continued existence.

For the German history of particular importance were the additional secret articles of the Treaty, which was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and Austrian ambassador. Emperor Franz II recognized in Article 1 of the Rhine between Basel and the river Cute south of Andernach as eastern border of France, on ("... La rive gauche du Rhin depuis la frontière de la Suisse au dessous de la Basle jusqu'au confluent de la Cute au dessus d' Andernach ... ").

The final regulations with the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation were reserved for the Congress of Rastatt (December 9, 1797 to April 23, 1799 ), but this was never completed because of the outbreak of the Second Coalition War.

The name Campoformio does not denote a place, but a field (Italian: campo ) west of Udine in Friuli, northern Italy, where there is also a place called Campo Formio. The peace treaty but was not signed at Campo Formio Campo Formio in - there was the camp of the Austrian army. Rather, the Austrian army command had to go to the headquarters of Napoleon: for Villa Manin, about 25 km west of Udine. There, Napoleon had the Austrians wait until late at night before he appeared for signature.