On This Day

Papal States annexed by France

The Papal States ( PAY-pəl; Italian: Stato Pontificio; Latin: Dicio Pontificia), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct...

The Papal States ( PAY-pəl; Italian: Stato Pontificio; Latin: Dicio Pontificia), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th century until the unification of Italy, which took place between 1859 and 1870, culminating in their demise.

The state was legally established in the 8th century when Pepin the Short, king of the Franks, gave Pope Stephen II, as a temporal sovereign, lands formerly held by Arian Christian Lombards, adding them to lands and other real estate formerly acquired and held by the bishops of Rome as landlords from the time of Constantine onward.

Historical Significance

The Papal States ( PAY-pəl; Italian: Stato Pontificio; Latin: Dicio Pontificia), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870.

Events Before

  1. African Benevolent Society (education) forms

    African Benevolent Society (education) forms

  2. Explorer William Clark (37) weds Julia Hancock in Fincastle, Virginia

    Explorer William Clark (37) weds Julia Hancock in Fincastle, Virginia

  3. Day depicted by Spanish painter Francisco Goya in his "The Third of May," which he paints in 1814

    Day depicted by Spanish painter Francisco Goya in his "The Third of May," which he paints in 1814

  4. Herman Daendels succeeds Albertus Wiese as Governor-General of Dutch-East Indies

    Herman Willem Daendels (21 October 1762 – 2 May 1818) was a Dutch military officer and colonial administrator who served as governor-general of the Dutch East Indies from 1808 to 1811.

  5. Organizational meeting held in Edinburgh leads to the founding of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a Scottish lear

    Organizational meeting held in Edinburgh leads to the founding of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a Scottish learned society

Events After

  1. French church annuls marriage of Napoleon I and Empress Joséphine

    Joséphine Bonaparte was the first wife of Emperor Napoleon I and as such Empress of the French from 18 May 1804 until their marriage was annulled on 10 January 1810.

  2. French leader Napoleon I marries 2nd wife Marie-Louise of Austria

    French leader Napoleon I marries 2nd wife Marie-Louise of Austria

  3. Ludwig van Beethoven composes his famous piano piece "Für Elise"

    Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist.

  4. In the May Revolution, citizens of Buenos Aires expel the Spanish Viceroy Cisneros during Semana de Mayo

    In the May Revolution, citizens of Buenos Aires expel the Spanish Viceroy Cisneros during Semana de Mayo

  5. American army officer and future US President Zachary Taylor (25) weds Margaret Smith (21) near Louisville, Kentucky, at

    American army officer and future US President Zachary Taylor (25) weds Margaret Smith (21) near Louisville, Kentucky, at the bride's sister's home

More from the 1800s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 17, 1809?
The Papal States ( PAY-pəl; Italian: Stato Pontificio; Latin: Dicio Pontificia), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th century until the unification of Italy, which took place between 1859 and 1870, culminating in their demise. The state was legally established in the 8th century when Pepin the Short, king of the Franks, gave Pope Stephen II, as a temporal sovereign, lands formerly held by Arian Christian Lombards, adding them to lands and other real estate formerly acquired and held by the bishops of Rome as landlords from the time of Constantine onward.
Why is Papal States annexed by France significant?
The Papal States ( PAY-pəl; Italian: Stato Pontificio; Latin: Dicio Pontificia), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870.

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