Austrian Era
Venetia formed for a long time the eastern part of the land portion (Domini di Terraferma, or Land Dominions) of the Republic of Venice, including current Veneto and Friuli; while Gorizia and Trieste were always under Austrian emperors' rule but for a few years in the early 16th century. The nearby Istria was part of the Republic of Venice, and it was and is strongly linked to Venetia, but it is not usually included in this region.
In 1797, the Republic ended with Napoleon's invasion and formation of the Napoleonic Empire, and was ceded to the Austrian Empire (exchanging it for Austrian Belgium). Then in 1805–1806, it was conquered by Napoleon's armies and included in the Kingdom of Italy.
During 1809, the region revolted against the French-Italian rule, supporting the advancing Austrian troops during the War of the Fifth Coalition. It was mainly a peasant revolt, less organised than the nearby Andreas Hofer's revolt, while hurban national guard troops fought on the French-Italian side.
After the Congress of Vienna, 1814–1815, Venetia was the eastern half of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, a separate kingdom of the Austrian Empire.
During the 1848 First Italian War of Independence, Venetia rose against the central Austrian government, forming the Republic of San Marco, which lasted 17 months. It asked to be annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia to form an Italian confederation against Austria, then using the Italian tricolour in its flag, but, after the other Italian states left the war (May 1848) and Sardinia surrendered (August 1848, then March 1849), Venetia stood alone. It surrendered on 24 August 1849, when the Siege of Venice ended.
The Austrian imperial government was unpopular among upper and middle classes because of Metternich's anti-liberal politics, turned by Emperor Franz Joseph into neo-absolutism after 1848, and for not granting Lombardo–Venetia any real autonomy (it was considered less than a puppet state). At the same time, it was appreciated for the efficient and honest administration, especially among lower classes, and long-standing strong cultural ties linked Venetia and Austria even after it was ceded to Italy. Despite this, after 1848–1849 there was no revolt against the Austrian rule.
Read more about this topic: Venetia (region)
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