Tuscan Republic (1849)

[5][6] On October 12 1848 the Grand Duke’s Prime Minister Count Capponi resigned and Leopold turned to the leader of the radical democrats Giuseppe Montanelli to form a new government.

These were unsuccessful as Montanelli feared Sardinian hegemony, while Gioberti had plans for military intervention to replace the Tuscan democratic ministry with a liberal one of a similar political character to his own.

[5] In Rome, Pope Pius IX fled to Gaeta on 24 November and a Constituent Assembly was formed on 29 December; preparations began for the proclamation of a Roman Republic.

[11]: 755 The new provisional government called fresh elections, on March 12, 1849, to create a new representative Tuscan chamber of 120 members as well as to nominate 37 deputies to the proposed new Italian Constituent Assembly.

His next move was to open negotiations with the moderate liberals, possibly with a view to bringing back Grand Duke Leopold before the Austrians restored him by force.

Following this, on 12 April the city council of Florence took power in the name of the Grand Duke[6] and set up a new provisional government commission led by Gino Capponi, Bettino Ricasoli, it:Luigi Serristori, it:Carlo Torrigiani and it:Cesare Capoquadri.

On 26 April 15,000 men under General D'Aspre entered Tuscany from the Duchy of Modena, encountering no resistance except in the Livorno, where harsh repression was necessary to put down rebellious elements and it was not taken until 11 May.