People
of Venice sentence Napoleon for war crimes
Pravda 30/12/2003 |
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The symbolic legal hearing of Napoleon Bonaparte's case took place in
Venice. After questioning 18 witnesses dressed in XVIII century
outfit and listening to the prosecutor and defense, the court, in accordance
with the contemporary international law, recognized Napoleon to be guilty
in plundering and destroying Venice Republic having 1000-year history.
The public in the big hall of the Venice Palace supported this sentence.
Napoleon who was General Bonaparte at that time, had a quick march across
the North of Italy in 1796 and conquered all the small separate states.
Then he united them under his protectorate, modernized their political
and legal system and in this way established the conditions for "Rizordzhimento"
- uniting Appenine Peninsula people under one country - Italy which
took place 60 years later.
Among the states conquered by Napoleon was ancient "Republic Serenissima".
By that time it had already lost its power and cultural potential of
XIII - XVI centuries when its war ships controlled all Adriatic area,
its territory stretched from the Alps to Cyprus. It was famous for its
masquerades and Titian and Veroneze created their masterpieces there.
In fact, Napoleon"s occupation only fixed the existing degradation
of the> republic. Moreover, his proponents argue that he brought
new perspectives to the declining city. Nevertheless, according to the
"laws of war", he robbed many cultural and financial valuables.
In particular, he destroyed the Venice military fleet and took the famous
sculpture of St Mark"s horses to Paris (this sculpture was brought
to Venice from Constantinople after its plundering by crusaders in 1204)
and painting "marriage in Kana Galileiskay" by Veroneze. In
a course of time, the horses were returned to the pediment of St Mark
Church in Venice, but the horses are still in Louvre.
The hearing of Napoleon’s case was arranged after an Italian bank
and "Napoleon Society" purchased the statue of Napoleon with
the intention to put it in St Mark’s Square. However, the statue
would not be allowed to be erected in this historic square even without
conducting this legal hearing: it was placed in the museum of history
of Venice.
Not everybody perceives this legal hearing as a joke. This "joke"
is supported by ultra-rightist separatists promoting the idea of establishing
"Padanskaya Republic" in Veneto region. They say this republic
should have no authorities who are strangers to Venetians - the authority
of Rome, mafia-driven Sicily, Yugoslavians, Albanians, Kenyans
and other nationalities.
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