Italian Elites under Napoleonic Rule. A Turning Point

The revolutionary and Napoleonic era had a major impact on Italian society, not least because the state began to define and select social elites, replacing the self-cooptation practices of the Ancien Régime. Using two different case studies, this article examines this change both in terms of opportunities for social advancement and new criteria for inclusion - property as well as talent - and their understanding. The example of the territories of the former Republic of Venice, which collapsed after the arrival of the French army in 1797, shows that the considerable presence of the nobility in the new institutions did not necessarily mean a strong social continuity with the Ancien Régime. Before 1797, the city of Venice and its nobility dominated the entire region, monopolising ruling positions. Later, nobles from the mainland, cittadini originari, and members of the bourgeoisie also entered the new Napoleonic institutions. Among them were businessmen who, although rarely appearing in purely administrative bodies, had consolidated their social position through the purchase of national properties or estates sold by indebted nobles. Property was indeed the main pillar of the new regime. However, notables who wanted to become officials also had to demonstrate knowledge and skills. Applications for employment reveal to what extent this was understood by the candidates. A preliminary qualitative and quantitative analysis of sources from the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Naples shows that the rhetoric used in these applications mixed traditional and new elements, suggesting that the latter were more used by those who were already inside the system.