The provisional government of Venice in 1848 was part of the European revolutions of 1848, a vast movement of political and social protest. In Venice, the population rose up against the domination of the Austrian Empire. On 22 March 1848, led by Daniele Manin, the insurgents proclaimed the restoration of the Republic of San Marco, putting an end to Austrian control over the city.
A provisional government was then set up to organise the resistance and administer the city. Led by Manin, this government adopted measures to mobilise resources, raise troops and defend Venetian independence. It embodied a republican ideal based on citizen participation and political freedom.
However, despite popular enthusiasm, the Republic faced great difficulties, including a lack of external support and Austrian military superiority. After a long siege, Venice capitulated in August 1849, putting an end to this republican experiment. The provisional government of 1848 nevertheless remains a strong symbol of the struggle for independence and freedom in 19th-century Italy.
