Treaty of Campo Formio facts for kids
| Treaty of Campo Formio between the French Republic and Austria Traité de Campo-Formio entre la République française et l'Autriche |
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Last page of the public part of the treaty
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| Signed | 17 October 1797 |
| Location | Campoformido, Republic of Venice |
| Signatories | |
| Depositary | Archives Nationales |
| Language | French |
The Treaty of Campo Formio was an important peace agreement. It was signed on October 17, 1797. The main people involved were Napoleon Bonaparte for France and Count Philipp von Cobenzl for Austria. This treaty officially ended the War of the First Coalition. This war had been fought between revolutionary France and several European powers.
The treaty came after Napoleon's successful military actions in Italy. His victories forced Austria to agree to a ceasefire. After this treaty, only Great Britain was still fighting against France. The treaty also meant the end of the old Republic of Venice. Its lands were divided between France and Austria.
Even though it was a peace treaty, the peace did not last long. France and Austria were at war again by early 1799. This new conflict was called the War of the Second Coalition. It ended with another treaty, the Peace of Lunéville, in 1801.
Contents
Where Was the Treaty Signed?
The treaty was signed in a village called Campo Formio. Today, it is known as Campoformido. This village is located in northeastern Italy, near the city of Udine. It was chosen because it was halfway between the Austrian army's headquarters and Napoleon's home.
Napoleon stayed at Villa Manin during the negotiations. This was a large country house belonging to Ludovico Manin. He was the last leader, or Doge, of Venice. The actual signing happened in an old house in the village's main square.
What Were the Main Agreements?
The Treaty of Campo Formio brought "firm and unbreakable peace." It also changed the map of Europe. Many Austrian lands were given to France. This included the Austrian Netherlands, which is now most of modern Belgium.
The lands of the Republic of Venice were split up. France received some islands in the Mediterranean Sea. These included Corfu and other Venetian areas in the Ionian Sea. Austria received the city of Venice itself. They also got the Venetian mainland, Venetian Istria, Venetian Dalmatia, and the Bay of Kotor region.
Austria also recognized two new independent states. These were the Cisalpine Republic and the Ligurian Republic. These new republics were formed from lands that used to belong to Savoy and Genoa.
The treaty also had some secret parts. These secret agreements further divided territories. They also agreed to extend France's borders up to the Rhine River. This meant France gained control over areas it had never ruled before. French ships were also allowed to travel freely on the Rhine and other rivers.
Why Was This Treaty Important?
The treaty was the result of five months of talks. It largely followed what was agreed in an earlier treaty, the Treaty of Leoben, in April 1797. The negotiations took a long time for various reasons.
Historians see the division of Venice as a problem. It left Austria with a foothold in Italy, which later led to more wars. The Peace of Campo Formio changed Europe greatly. It also boosted Napoleon's fame. However, it was only a temporary break in the fighting.
One important outcome was the release of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette. He was a famous figure from the French Revolution. He had been held prisoner by the Austrians. The treaty also affected later Greek history. It gave Venetian lands in Greece, like the Ionian Islands, to French rule.
Images for kids
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Last page of the public part of the treaty
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A map showing Central Europe after the Treaty of Campo Formio.
