Quei bravi napoleonici: storie di uomini votati all’Impero

This essay explores the political cultures of the Italians who embraced the Napoleonic regime, examining the diverse ideas, expectations, and motivations that shaped their participation in the political order established by Napoleon in Italy. Moving beyond a simplistic opposition between collaboration and resistance, the article highlights the variety of political traditions that converged within the Napoleonic system, including republicanism, enlightened reformism, administrative pragmatism, and aspirations for national regeneration. Through the analysis of political writings, institutional practices, and individual trajectories, the study investigates how Italian elites interpreted the opportunities and constraints of Napoleonic rule, adapting pre-existing political ideals to a rapidly changing context. In doing so, the essay sheds light on the formation of new political identities and on the lasting impact of the Napoleonic experience on the political culture of nineteenth-century Italy.