The Napoleonic era; the first capitol of Italy

In the 18th century, Florence was flooded by foreigners. The city was in decline until Grand Duke Peter Leopold helped returned the city to prosperity by improving agriculture around Florence and by improving education at the end of the century. He also reorganized the Royal Academy of Sciences that had been started by the Medici's.

Tuscany became a client state of France in 1800, and Napoleon Bonaparte was declared King of Italy in 1805.

The return of independence to Florence in 1814 began another era of reform and prosperity. Police, hospitals, schools, public works, and the judicial system were all improved. It was during this time that Florence became a haven for liberals and the "literary lions of the Risorgimento." In the 1830s railway networks were expanded throughout Tuscany; a rail link was built between Prato and Florence, and telegraph lines were extended beside the tracks. The Florence railway station was built near Santa Maria Novella. Expansion outside the city center was encouraged by the city's Grand Duke, the son of Peter Leopold. Gas lamps appeared along the streets o Florence, housing for more than 300 poor families was built, major streets were widened and the Duomo was expanded (Hibbert 221­p;239). But in 1859 demonstrations forced the Grand Duke from power in support of the new unified Italy.

In 1859 the unified Italy was established and in 1865 Florence was designated its first capitol. The city's population had grown from 60,000 in 1800 to 114,00 in 1861. The designation of Florence as the capitol meant that 20­p;30,000 government officials and families would be moving to the city and new housing had to be built. To plan for this expansion of the city, two commissions were created; one planned the inside of the city, while another commission planned the area around and beyond the old city walls. Ring roads were constructed, new squares appeared such as the Piazza della Repubblica, and sweeping avenues linked the river to areas of the city beyond the old walls where residential areas were being built. In the city, open spaces were cleared for markets, and old houses were demolished for parks and gardens (Hibbert 252­p;254).

In 1878 the Italian capitol was moved from Florence to Rome. Florentines were happy to see the functions of the capitol city moved to the South because while the city had certainly benefited from the presence of the central government with buildings such as the Biblioteca Nazionale, new theaters, and new newspapers, the city and the streets were crowded. After the central government's departure, the redevelopment that had begun when the capitol was located in Florence continued as planned, but the city's population dropped from 200,000 to 167,000. Many of the people who had left Florence for Rome were well paid government officials so the economy suffered following their departure. In 1884, cholera claimed 8000 victims in Florence. Recovery came by the end of the century as new industry was being developed and the railroad network in Italy was further expanded.



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