Case papers, 355x245mm., 8 ff.. Between folios 5 and 8 a bifolio (ff. 6r-7v) is inserted with the Variazioni trovate nel Trattato di pace fra la Santa Sede e la Republica <sic> Francese, che precede la rattifica <sic>, presentata dall’ambasciatore Bonaparte alla Santità di Nostro Signore (Variations found in the Peace Treaty between the Holy See and the French Republic, that precedes the ratification, presented by the Ambassador Bonaparte to His Holiness). Wax seals of the plenipotentiaries of the Holy See and of the French Republic. It is impossible to attribute the seals due to the poor quality of their impression.
ASV, Segr. Stato, Epoca Napol., Italia, XI, Ia, f. 5r
Following the occupation of Modena, Bologna, Forlì and other cities of the papal legations by the troops of Napoleon, on the 23rd June 1796 in Bologna the armistice between Pius VI (1775-799) and the French Republic was signed. However, hostilities resumed after only seven months: on the 3rd February 1797, the papal army was defeated at Faenza, on the 10th February Napoleon arrives at Ancona, on 12th February the French enter into Macerata. Pius VI sends Napoleon a plenipotentiary delegation in the hope to «negotiate» and «subscribe» «fair and reasonable» conditions. On the evening of 16th February, both the papal delegation and Napoleon with his staff arrive at Tolentino. Negotiations start the following morning. The discussion is close because Bonaparte declares that he cannot keep his troops calm for long and it is conducted with difficulty; Napoleon does not accept the project of the treaty, worked out by the papal delegates, and on 18th February asks the French representative, François Cacault, to draw up the final articles, ordering him to have them signed before the following night. In the afternoon of Sunday 19th February, the treaty or the «peace» (the term Napoleon preferred) is reluctantly signed by the papal plenipotentiaries (Card. Alessandro Mattei, Mons. Lorenzo Caleppi, Duke Luigi Braschi Onesti, Marquis Camillo Massimi) to avoid the danger of the military occupation of Rome; for the French Republic sign the General in Charge (Napoleon) Bonaparte, the Commander of the Army of Italy, and the chargé d’affaires of France in Italy, the citizen (François) Cacault (see document). Napoleon gives this news to Pius VI with a letter delivered by his aide-de-camp, whereas Card. Mattei writes to the Secretary of State: «Rome is safe, and safe is the religion, notwithstanding the great sacrifices».
The treaty includes 26 articles. To assure paix, amitié et bonne intelligence between Pius VI and the French Republic (art. 1), the Pope undertakes to withdraw from any accession, patente ou secrette with the enemies of France (art. 2). War ships and pirates who are enemies of France cannot dock in the Papal States (art. 4). The Pope undertakes to give up any rights over Avignon and over the Comtat Venassin(art. 6), as well as over the legations of Bologna, Ferrara and Romagna (art. 7). Before 5th March 1797 (avant le 15 du mois de ventôse courant) Pius VI will have to pay 15 million tournois liras of France as partial payment of the 16 he still had to pay according to art. 9 of the armistice of Bologna: in order to fully meet this latter undertaking, the Pope gave the French army 800 chevaux de trait, des boeufs et des bufles et autres objets produits du territoire de l’Église (art. 10-11). In addition, as a new contribution, the Pope paid another 15 million en numeraire, diamants ou autres valeur: 10 before the end of March and 5 before the end of April 1797 (art. 12). The manuscripts and the works of art still to be consigned according to the armistice Bologna, should have been returned as soon as possible (art. 13). France undertakes to cede her rights over the pious foundations in Rome and Loreto (art. 17). The Pope should have set free the political and war prisoners (art. 19-20), granting the French Republic the provision of the most favourite nation (art. 21).
Pius VI ratifies the treaty of Tolentino on 24th February 1797, ordering Mons. Gaetano Marini to keep the original and a copy in the Archives of Castel S. Angelo. The French Directory confirms it on 30th April 1797 (Segr. Stato, Epoca Napol., Italia, XI, Ib, ff. 6 parchments).
On the meaning of the Treaty of Tolentino in the history of the temporal power of the Church, the views of the historians are not unanimous. However, the very fact that Bonaparte did not impose on the Pope any provision regarding his role as spiritual leader of Christendom represents a new conception in the relation between Church and State. With the Treaty of Tolentino, the Roman Church accepted, although certainly reluctantly, «the first serious loss of temporal power», but «became more aware of having, according to an ancient promise, eternal values. These were the signs of a new era» (Filippone Giustino, Le relazioni fra lo Stato Pontificio e la Francia rivoluzionaria. Storia diplomatica del Trattato di Tolentino, vol. II, pag. 651).
