Cisalpine Republic
a former state in north Italy. After the battle of Lodi, in May, 1796, General Bonaparte CISTERCIAN proceeded to organize two states-one on the S. of the Po, the Cispadane Republic, and one on the N., the Transpadane. dane Republic, These two were on July 9, 1797, united into one under the title of the Cisalpine Republic, which embraced Lombardy, Mantua, Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, Verona, and Rovigo, the duchy of Modena, the principalities of Massa and Carrara, and the three legations of Bologna, Ferrara, and the Romagna. The republic had a territory of more than 16,000 square miles, and a population of 3,500,000. Milan was the seat of the government or Directory. The army consisted of 20,000 French troops, paid by the republic. The republic was dissolved for a time in 1799 by the victories of the Russians and Austrians, but was restored by Bonaparte after the victory of Marengo, with some modifications of constitution and increase of territory.
In 1802 it took the name of the Italian Republic, and chose Bonaparte for its president. A deputation from the republic in 1805 conferred on the Emperor Napoleon the title of King of Italy; after which it formed the kingdom of Italy till 1814.