The Siege of Ancona (April 1797) was a siege of the French Revolutionary Wars that occurred when the French armies of Jean Seruier and Barthelemy Catherine Joubert conquered the Papal city of Ancona in the Marche region. The French armies, totalling 3,604 troops, began a campaign against Ancona and suffered 1,754 losses in the process; they defeated 3,940 Papal troops under Adalberto Materazzi outside of Ancona before storming the city and conquering the Marche region. The Papal States were forced to make peace with France to prevent the French from storming Rome as well.
Background[]
The Papal States was hostile to the revolutionary French government from its rise to power in 1789, as the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and the dechristianization of France had been perceived as insults towards the power of the Pope. In 1796, further to recent affonts against the French First Republic, the Papal States set about harassing French forces in Italy. The French took advantage of this newfound aggression, as the Papal States were notoriously wealthy and their riches would serve the French war efforts well. If the French could take Ancona, they would be one step closer to Rome, and Napoleon Bonaparte believed that Pope would have no choice but to surrender if he was threatened by French armies.
Siege[]
The French armies besieging Ancona
In April 1797, generals Jean Seruier and Barthelemy Catherine Joubert arrived in the Marche region with 3,604 French troops. The two armies marched south together, ensuring that they would be able to reinforce each other in the case of a battle, and they were met in battle by a Papal army of 2,871 troops under Francesco Tiepolo. The French destroyed Tiepolo's army, inflicting 2,456 losses on the Papal army, although the French victory was at a high cost; they lost 1,478 troops. The French would encamp outside of Ancona, and they moved on the city itself two weaks later. The Papal garrison of 1,484 troops under Adalberto Materazzi now had to face two French armies with more troops, and the French had the advantage. The two French armies stormed Ancona with 276 losses, conquering the city.
Aftermath[]
Flag of the Anconine Republic
As French armies stormed onward through Papal States territory, the Pope sent forth emissaries to meet with Napoleon Bonaparte. Intent on avoiding a full-scale French invasion of Rome, the Vatican agreed to pay the French a considerable sum whilst formally returning ownership of the city of Avignon to France. Furthermore, France's forces were officially given free-reign to seize treasures from the Vatican, and many great works of art were taken to Paris to become a part of the Musee Napoleon (Louvre). Bound to Rome and the Vatican, the Pope no longer posed a threat to Bonaparte's exploits in northern Italy. In addition, an Anconine Republic was established as a French client state.