The conquest of Venice by Napoleon Bonaparte was a pivotal moment in the Italian campaign during the War of the First Coalition against Austria. In early 1797, after a series of military victories in northern Italy, Bonaparte set his sights on the Venetian Republic, a city-state with a rich maritime history and significant trade influence. Despite its attempts to maintain neutrality, Venice found itself vulnerable to French expansionist ambitions, particularly as the Austrian forces were forced to retreat.

On May 12, 1797, after a brief siege, the French troops entered Venice, effectively ending centuries of Venetian independence. The city was renowned for its unique governance structure and wealth, but it could not withstand the military might of the advancing French army. Following the occupation, Bonaparte consolidated French control over Venetian territories, ushering in a new administrative era characterized by reforms and the spread of Enlightenment ideas. The transformation of Venice was not just military but also cultural and political, as the French sought to reshape the city in line with revolutionary principles.

This conquest allowed for the realignment of territorial control in Northern Italy and marked a significant decline in Austrian influence over the region. The fall of Venice had lasting consequences for the political landscape of Europe, as it indicated the rise of French power under Napoleon. The acquisition also allowed for a broad reorganization of Italian territories, which would eventually lead to the fragmentation and later unification of Italy in the 19th century. This early conflict foreshadowed Napoleon's larger ambitions and the series of wars that would engulf Europe in the years to follow.