Ligurian Republic

The Ligurian Republic (, Ligurian: Repubbrica Ligure) was a client republic (a puppet state) formed by Napoleon I of France on 14 June 1797, after his army occupied Italy. It consisted of the old Republic of Genoa which Napoleon abolished and which covered most of the Ligurian region of northwest Italy, and the small Imperial fiefs owned by the House of Savoy inside its territory. Its first constitution was passed on 22 December 1797, establishing a Directorial republic.

History
The directory was overthrown on 7 December 1799 and the executive Girolamo Luigi Durazzo was temporarily replaced by a commission.Journal de Bruxelles 90, page 718 and 719, 'De Gênes, le 16 Frimaire (7 décembre 1799)'  In 1800 a Doge was nominated for 5 years. In 1802 he was nominated for life. The Doge had no real powers, because he and the state were controlled by Napoleon and his army. Despite the appearance as a constitutional republic with a constitution and a legislature, almost everything was decided by Napoleon, like in all the other French client states.

The state was briefly occupied by the Austrian army in 1800, but Napoleon soon returned with his army. A new constitution was published in 1801, establishing institutions more similar to those of the previous Genoan Republic, with a Doge who was president of a senate. The Ligurian Republic used the traditional Genoese flag, a red cross on a white background.

In June 1805, the Ligurian Republic was annexed by the French to the French Empire.

After the fall of Napoleon in 1814, the republic was briefly restored between 28 April and 28 July. Following the Congress of Vienna it was awarded to the Kingdom of Sardinia and annexed on 3 January 1815.

References

Category:Liguria
Category:18th century in Italy
Category:Former republics
Category:Puppet states
Category:Former countries in Europe
Category:1797 establishments in Europe
Category:1800s disestablishments in Europe
Category:States and territories disestablished in the 19th century
Category:18th-century establishments in Italy
Category:19th-century disestablishments in Italy