Tracciare una rivoluzione: storia, identità e appartenenze nella Brescia del 1797

Studying Brescia after the revolution of March 1797 allows one to understand how the revolutionary historical revival helped in reaffirming a civic identity that was used as a political ground for the new republican regime. French revolutionary ideals laid in the background, giving way to municipal independence at odds with the idea of Italian unity promoted by other patriots during the Triennio repubblicano. This essay will analyse the complex relationship between «piccola patria» and «patria italiana», clarifying the political project of the elite which came to power by establishing the Republic of Brescia.