SPARKLING FREEDOM AND THE UNION OF ITALY

Città di Castello was the last Umbrian town to accept, at the end of the 17th Century, the Jacobine Revolution Statute by the entering of the Cisalpine troops (January 13th 1798) followed by the French (1st February). After the proclamation of the Roman Republic (15th February), the Freedom Tree was planted in the main square of the town, but around this time it is important to remember that the territory was also deprived of it's artistic wealth by the loss of Raffaello's masterpiece "The Virgin Wedding", consigned to Napoleon's Legion Commandant (29th January). It was a terrible year for the town, because a terrific, massacring earthquake (30th September) also occurred which followed the previous one nine years before. Every effort was made during the 18th Century to regain possession of the Sanzio's exceptional masterpiece but all were useless, despite the illegality of the depredation being proved, as it was removed against the revolutionary municipality want.
The "Farmer's revolution" under the slogan "Hurra Mary" (a motto which hid the password for killing Republicans, Jacobins &Jews) against the clergy and the Aristocracy lasted a couple of months and on May 5th 150 French soldiers were killed together with Republic Municipality Members and the President Giulio Bufalini, the ex Marquise.
Control of the town was returned to Transalpine's hands one week later and then in June 1799 Città di Castello was occupied by the Austrian-Arezzo troops that restored the Pontifical domination, re-establishing the ancient régime. It was a hard year for Città di Castello
Only during the first half of the 19th Century Città di Castello had three brief periods of Freedom: the annexation to the Emperor Napoleon (1809-1814) that also brought to Città di Castello the abolition of meal tax and the setting up of the register office; the establishment of a Provisory Council in 1831, followed by the first changing of the "Risorgimento"; the adherence to the Roman Republic on 1849, this was proceeded by significant events such as the setting up of a Civic Guard and the expulsion of the Jesuits, during which many Tifernati (people from "Tifernum") died in name of freedom, against the Austrians, among of whom was Fulgenzio Fabrizi.
Città di Castello shook off Pontifical domination when the Piedmontese troops of General Fanti entered the town, on September 11th, 1860 and the following general consent of adhesion to the Italian Kingdom.