Treaty of Tolentino

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 the "Musée Napoléon" in 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.

ee 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.