The French Invasion of Italy in 1796

The Italian branch of the Republic of Letters joined in the general reformist milieu of the 1700s. A few Italians did think their disunity was a major obstacle to progress, but couldn't quite bring themselves to think liberation and unification were actually practical goals. At first liberal-minded Italians cheered on the French Revolution and welcomed Bonaparte and the French as the bringers of light and justice into an Italy that still slaved under feudal oppression. We discuss this all at length during the later episode of the French Revolution series.