I rapporti diplomatici tra la Francia e la Repubblica di Venezia nella seconda metà del XVIII secolo (1749-1797)

In the second half of the eighteenth century, relations between France and the Republic of Venice unfolded within a European landscape deeply transformed by wars, imperial competition, and the Enlightenment. France, still a major power but weakened by colonial conflicts, financial difficulties, and internal political tensions, pursued ambitious diplomatic aims while confronting the rise of Great Britain and shifting continental balances. Venice, diminished yet still influential in the Mediterranean, adopted after 1718 a principled neutrality meant to preserve its autonomy in the face of Austria and the broader geopolitical dynamics at play in the Italian peninsula. The French perception of the Serenissima oscillated between admiration for its stability and criticism of its political immobility. Diplomats and philosophers often denounced the institutional opacity and slow decision-making of the Venetian government, while others noted that the Republic’s longevity rested precisely on strict caution and faithful adherence to its laws. This ambivalence shaped a diplomacy marked by distrust, respect, and continuous interest in Venice’s role in maintaining the Italian equilibrium. Diplomatic practice constituted the main arena of contact. Ambassadors acted as key mediators, tasked with observing domestic policies, negotiating, and managing incidents. In Paris, Venetian envoys enjoyed broad access to political circles; in Venice, by contrast, French representatives had to comply with an exacting protocol and face the close scrutiny of the State Inquisitors. Consuls in Mediterranean ports (Marseille, Genoa, the Barbary regencies) supplemented this structure, revealing frequent frictions linked to commerce, flags, and navigation rights. Tensions between the two states stemmed from maritime incidents, disputes over neutrality, violations of diplomatic immunity, or commercial rivalries. Yet no lasting rupture occurred: France, eager to prevent any rapprochement between Venice and Vienna, prioritized mediation and sought to preserve the Republic’s neutrality, which it considered preferable to an uncertain alliance. French attempts to secure an alliance, especially in the 1750s, failed because Venice feared Austrian retaliation. Neutrality thus became the Republic’s central strategy, despite its limitations. This fragile balance collapsed with the Italian campaign of 1796-1797, when Revolutionary France dismantled a centuries-old diplomatic system. The fall of Venice ultimately revealed the complexity and depth of Franco-Venetian relations throughout the century.