The 'Treaty of Tolentino' was signed after nine months of negotiations between
France and the
Papal States on
February 19,
1797. It was part of the events following the invasion of
Italy in the early stages of the
French Revolutionary Wars. The signatories were the
French Directory's ambassador to the Holy see, François Cacault, and General Bonaparte, and four representatives of
Pius VI's Curia. Fifteen million
lire were added to the indemnity of 21 millions exacted at the precedent armistice signed at
Bologna. In addition, the papal city of
Avignon and its territory, the
Comtat Venaissin, which had been occupied by French forces at an early stage of the Revolution, were formally ceded to France. The confiscation of artistic treasures from the
Vatican was formalized; over a hundred paintings and other works of art were to go to
Paris. The French commissioners reserved the right to enter any building, public, religious or private, to make their assessment of what was to be included. This part of the treaty was extended to apply to all of Italy in 1798.
See also
★
List of treaties
References
★ Filippone, Giustino ''Le relazioni tra lo stato pontificio e la francia rivoluzionaria: Storia diplomatica del Trattato di Tolentino'' Part I (1961) Part II (1967) The standard modern treatment.
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