Principality of Lucca and Piombino
Encyclopedia
The Principality of Lucca and Piombino was created in 1805 by Napoleon for his beloved sister Elisa Bonaparte
and her husband Felice Pasquale Baciocchi. The State was the result of the annexation of ancient Principality of Piombino
by the Republic of Lucca
which was turned into a monarchy
. The Constitution was written by Napoleon on June 22, establishing a Council of State to assist the Princes, and a legislative Senate.
The Principality adopted the French franc
as currency, even if few special local coins were minted. On March 3, 1809, Elisa was created by her brother Grand Duchess of all Tuscany
in Florence
, a region which had been annexed to France
two years before. Hence the Principality became part of Tuscany and, consequently, of the French Empire
, but under a special status: a prefect
was appointed (Antoine-Marie-Pierre de Hautmesnil), but the territory was never named a department.
In 1814, Austria
n Army occupied Lucca and gave Piombino to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
and Elba
to the exiled Napoleon. Lucca was restored as a separate state, and the Congress of Vienna
gave it to Maria Louisa of Bourbon.
Elisa Bonaparte
Maria Anna Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi Levoy, Princesse Française, Duchess of Lucca and Princess of Piombino, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Countess of Compignano was the fourth surviving child and eldest surviving daughter of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino, making her the younger sister of...
and her husband Felice Pasquale Baciocchi. The State was the result of the annexation of ancient Principality of Piombino
Principality of Piombino
The Principality of Piombino was a state of Italy, which existed from 1399 to 1805, when Napoleon absorbed it into the Principality of Lucca and Piombino...
by the Republic of Lucca
Republic of Lucca
The Republic of Lucca was an ancient State of Tuscany which lasted from 1160 to 1805.After the death of Matilda of Tuscany, the city of Lucca began to constitute itself an independent commune, with a charter in 1160. For almost 500 years, Lucca remained an independent republic...
which was turned into a monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
. The Constitution was written by Napoleon on June 22, establishing a Council of State to assist the Princes, and a legislative Senate.
The Principality adopted the French franc
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
as currency, even if few special local coins were minted. On March 3, 1809, Elisa was created by her brother Grand Duchess of all Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, a region which had been annexed to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
two years before. Hence the Principality became part of Tuscany and, consequently, of the French Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
, but under a special status: a prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
was appointed (Antoine-Marie-Pierre de Hautmesnil), but the territory was never named a department.
In 1814, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Army occupied Lucca and gave Piombino to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
and Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
to the exiled Napoleon. Lucca was restored as a separate state, and the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
gave it to Maria Louisa of Bourbon.