the battle of marengo, painted louis-françois lejeune
according libretto, action of tosca occurs in rome in june 1800. sardou, in play, dates more precisely; la tosca takes place in afternoon, evening, , morning of 17 , 18 june 1800.
italy had long been divided number of small states, pope in rome ruling papal states in central italy. following french revolution, french army under napoleon invaded italy in 1796, entering rome unopposed on 11 february 1798 , establishing republic there. republic ruled 7 consuls; in opera office formerly held angelotti, character may based on real-life consul libero angelucci. in september 1799 french, had protected republic, withdrew rome. left, troops of kingdom of naples occupied city.
in may 1800 napoleon, undisputed leader of france, brought troops across alps italy once again. on 14 june army met austrian forces @ battle of marengo (near alessandria). austrian troops successful; mid-morning in control of field of battle. commander, michael von melas, sent news south towards rome. however, fresh french troops arrived in late afternoon, , napoleon attacked tired austrians. melas retreated in disarray remains of army, sent second courier south revised message. neapolitans abandoned rome, , city spent next fourteen years under french domination.
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