Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)

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The flag of the Kingdom of Italy was a rectangular version of the flag of the Italian Republic, with Napoleon's emblem on the green field.

Northern Italy in 1810, with the Kingdom of Italy, the French Empire (Piedmont, Parma and Tuscany), the Kingdom of Naples and Kingdom of Sardinia

The Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy (Italian: Regno d'Italia, but also Regno Italico) was a kingdom founded in Italy by Napoleon, in 1805. The kingdom ended in 1814, with the defeat of Napoleon.

The Kingdom of Italy was born on 17 March 1805. On that day, the Italian Republic, whose president was Napoleon, became Kingdom of Italy, with Napoleon as King of Italy and Eugène de Beauharnais viceroy. Napoleon was crowned in Milan's cathedral, on 26 May 1805, with the Iron Crown of Lombardy.

The Kingdom consisted of Lombardy, Venetia, the Duchy of Modena, part of the Papal States (Ancona, the remaining part with Rome having been annexed to the French Empire), part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and South Tyrol.

In practice, the Kingdom was basically a colony for the French, as they had used the various natural resources to enrich France during its primitive days of industrialization under Napoleon. It also provided a superb battlefield for Napoleon's battles against Austria in the various wars of the coalitions.

Napoleon abdicated on 11 April 1814. Eugène tried to become king of Italy, but the opposition of the Senate of the Kingdom and Milan insurrection (20 April 1814) foiled his plan: Eugène was exiled by the Austrians, who occupied Milan.

Army of the Kingdom of Italy

Infantry:

line infantry: five regiments from the Italian Republic, plus other two raised in 1805 and 1808
light infantry: three regiments from the Italian Republic, plus another one raised in 1811
Royal Guard: two battalions from the Italian Republic (Granatieri and Cacciatori), plus other two (Velites) raised in 1806, plus two battalions of young guard raised in 1810, and other two raised in 1811

Cavalry:

dragoons: two regiments from the Italian Republic
Cacciatori a Cavallo (light horse): one regiment from the Italian Republic, plus other three raised in 1808, 1810 and 1811
Royal Guard: two squadrons of dragoons, five companies of Guards of Honour

The army of the kingdom, inserted into the Grande Armée, took part to all Napoleon's campaigns. Living for 17 years, the Italian Republic/Kingdom of Italy army had enlisted over 200,000 men and lost about 125,000.