Federico Vidic graduated in International and Diplomatic Sciences, University of Trieste. Masters' in Business Management, University of Bologna. Main research interests lie in the Early modern diplomatic networks and circulation of models, in particolar within the Habsburg courts and provinces, and in Gorizia as a case study for such practices. In 2020-22 he coordinated an international project on the Cobenzl family, involving 32 scholars from 8 countries: https://archiviodistatogorizia.cultura.gov.it/cobenzl/
Member of SISEM - Società Italiana per la Storia dell'Età Moderna Address: Bern, Switzerland
The Cobenzls were an extraordinary family that distinguished itself in one of the most surprising... more The Cobenzls were an extraordinary family that distinguished itself in one of the most surprising (but still almost unknown) social rises of the Upper Adriatic region in 1500-1800. Since the very first, they were able to deal with Europe's leaders, such as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Ivan the Terrible, Christina of Sweden, Charles VI, Maria Theresa, Frederick II of Prussia, Catherine of Russia, and Napoleon. At the same time, they were patrons of many artists, such as Mozart, Da Ponte, Caucig, Meytens, and David.
The Cobenzl family came from the small village of San Daniele del Carso/Štanjel near Gorizia, and built its fortune from generation to generation in the service of the Habsburgs. They became famous throughout Europe in the fields of politics, diplomacy, philosophy, and art.
The "Relatione delle cose di Moscovia" (1576) by Giovanni Cobenzl (1530-1594) was the result of an adventurous journey across the steppes and ice, will be the basis of western knowledge about Russia. Two centuries later, Giovanni Filippo Cobenzl (1741-1810) accompanied Emperor Joseph II on a tour of pre-revolutionary France, leaving behind a diary full of unpublished information. These are just two examples among many that emerge from research that places Gorizia regional history in its proper European context, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers.
The history of the family -- whose rich archive is preserved in Gorizia -- has been investigated for the first time in depth, thanks to the collaboration of 32 scholars from 8 different countries and in the light of the most recent historiographical approaches. Gorizia, Vienna, Ljubljana, Trieste, Brussels, Paris, Moscow and Saint. Petersburg are just some of the scenarios of this vast fresco that sees the Cobenzl legacy still alive in the Hermitage, the Royal Academy of Belgium, in castles such as Predjama and the Postumia caves, in Slovenia, Friuli, and Vienna, where Cobenzl became the name of an entire suburb.
In the 18th century Gorizia and Trieste experienced an extraordinary period of development and be... more In the 18th century Gorizia and Trieste experienced an extraordinary period of development and became the destination of travellers, intellectuals, aristocrats and adventurers, including the most famous of them all: Giacomo Casanova. Seeking Venice's forgiveness, the libertine travelled to the two cities (then part of the Habsburg Empire) with a dossier of notes to submit to a willing publisher, a wealth of experiences to recount, and the hunger of one who has to match lunch with dinner. Yeah, and the women? There are many: from the beautiful Luisa (Countess Lantieri) to the "perfect beauty" of Lenzica, Count Strassoldo's maid, protagonist of daring adventures. All this is narrated in the book, with a few detours to Udine and Venice, to the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni.
Giovanni Battista Verda, Count Verdenberg, was one of the most influential ministers of the court... more Giovanni Battista Verda, Count Verdenberg, was one of the most influential ministers of the court of Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg. He was founder of the Austrian Chancellery in Vienna and a skilled jurist and diplomat. Verdenberg became a protagonist in the age of European conflicts, the wars in Bohemia, the succession of Mantua and Monferrato, the Affaire d'Aquilée and the Thirty Years' War. As a close collaborator of Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, he served under the emperors Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III in Gorizia, Graz and Vienna. Verdenberg became one of the richest men in Austria, Bohemia and Moravia. He had his castles, palaces, churches, convents and funerary monuments in Vienna, Grafenegg, Náměšť nad Oslavou and Strass im Strassertal decorated in the Baroque style and adorned them with valuable works by Frans Luycx, Friedrich Stoll and Giovanni Pietro de Pomis. In his hometown, Gorizia, he donated Palazzo Verdenberg to the Jesuits who established the college and the library which later became the Biblioteca Statale Isontina.
It is a story of "first times" that of Gorizia diplomats who, between the 14th and 16th centuries... more It is a story of "first times" that of Gorizia diplomats who, between the 14th and 16th centuries, ventured into missions on behalf of the most diverse lords, from the counts of Gorizia to the patriarchs of Aquileia, from the Carraresi of Padua to the Habsburgs: the first "Germanic" ambassadors in Russia and at the Ottoman Gate are in reality noblemen from Gorizia.
Thus an "external history" of the County of Gorizia unfolds "from wider perspectives" only apparently distant from traditional historiography. Venice and Vienna are protagonists in this "autumn of the Middle Ages", together with Budapest, Rome and other centres of power in which designs, perhaps too ambitious, aim to unite the powers of the continent around the emperor.
Almost twenty years after the publication of the latest organic studies on the Gorizia Middle Ages (Da Ottone III a Massimiliano I), a new contribution to the rediscovery of the "European dimension" of a territory-bridge between three civilizations: Italian, German and Slavic.
Who was the first Westerner to sign a treaty with the emperor of Japan? Who managed the peace in ... more Who was the first Westerner to sign a treaty with the emperor of Japan? Who managed the peace in the Balkans, the "powder keg of Europe", for thirty years by the merely tools of diplomacy? Who was emperor Franz Joseph's closest adviser for Eastern policy? Who became the dean of the ambassadors of Europe at the zenith of imperialism? Who was the most influential figure coming from Gorizia in the nineteenth century? How could a small borderland town get at the top of international diplomacy? The life and work of Enrico de Calice (1831-1912), still little known long-lived protagonist of the foreign policy of seven empires: Austro-Hungarian, British, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German and Ottoman. More than fifty years of history through the glasses of diplomacy, meant as the "art of peace" in the era of imperialism and triumphant colonialism at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
[Heinrich von Calice, ein görzer Diplomat zwischen Ostasien und dem Goldenen Horn]
Studia historica adriatica ac danubiana, 16(1-2), 2023
A manuscript from the Biblioteca Statale Isontina in Gorizia is published here for the first time... more A manuscript from the Biblioteca Statale Isontina in Gorizia is published here for the first time in its entirety on the basis of the original text. It contains the only surviving literary work by Count Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741), an influential member of the Habsburg government in the North Adriatic region. “Il viaggio a caso” (The Random Journey) is a heroicomic poem set in Hungary at the time of Emperor Charles VI, which mixes imaginary or ‘en travesti’ characters with real ones such as the painter Peter Strudel (1648-1708), founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Rabatta foreshadows in the co-star his brother Raymond Ferdinand, Bishop of Passau and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (1713-1722). The poem’s literary plot highlights the points of contact between Italian, Germanic and Hungarian cultural circles at a time of transition between the Jesuitically influenced Baroque sensibility and the poet’s veiled scepticism, which finds vent in a biting and sometimes bitter satire.
During the 17th century, political practice in the County of Gorizia – in which the nobles contin... more During the 17th century, political practice in the County of Gorizia – in which the nobles continued to be the absolute protagonists – changed significantly from the extensive use of violence to a stricter observance of rules and formalities to regulate conflicts and distribute resources. This transformation coincided with the coming of Eleonora Gonzaga, Marchioness of Luzzara and wife of one of the strongest feudal lords in the upper Adriatic region, the Della Torre/Thurns. The direct relationship between the noblewoman and her namesake relative, Empress Eleanor I, protected her acquired family from the self-destructive conflict that was tearing it apart and plunging the entire County of Gorizia into anarchy. Eleonora, making the best use of the instruments of influence available to her as a woman, was able to introduce the archetypes of government learned in her home town of Mantua, modifying the tried-and-true constitution of the County and contributing to its effective integration into the Habsburg monarchy.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
«The Rastadt congress was simply Germanic, the Lunéville congress would be European: the most gra... more «The Rastadt congress was simply Germanic, the Lunéville congress would be European: the most grandiose spectacle». Actually, Austrian foreign policy in 1800-1805 found itself alone in facing the French overwhelming power led by Napoleon. Louis Cobenzl understood that only by profoundly renewing the state would it be possible to save the Habsburg monarchy from sinking. Cobenzl took note of the liquidation of the Holy Roman Empire and focused Vienna’s attention towards the Italian peninsula. He adopted as a strategic doctrine the “containment based on deterrence”. In his analysis it was inevitable to move from dialectical confrontation to the clash. But the real problem was time. Was there enough time to create a revamped and vital “Empire of Austria” before Napoleon made it a puppet in his hands? The Cobenzls – Louis vice-chancellor in Vienna, Philipp ambassador in Paris – led foreign policy but the general direction of the government essentially slipped out of their hands. Too many centres of power (minister Colloredo, archduke Charles, generals like Mack) influenced emperor Francis. To regain the initiative and relaunch Austria’s future as a great power, Louis Cobenzl bet on war – and lost. But the path he had traced allowed his former pupil Metternich to prepare revenge and redraw the map of Europe.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
In 1796, the ruin of the Italian states exposed Austria to a mortal and unknown danger: France ar... more In 1796, the ruin of the Italian states exposed Austria to a mortal and unknown danger: France arrived at the gates of the Monarchy thanks to the successes of Bonaparte. In his advance, the young general violated the neutrality of the Republic of Venice, causing its political collapse. Then he crossed the Alps and camped in Leoben. In this context of desperation, Minister Thugut called “the best diplomat of the empire” to negotiate peace with Napoleon. Travelling in forced stages, the ambassador took his instructions in Vienna – which left him great freedom. Arriving in Friuli, Cobenzl faced a very tough confrontation with the Frenchman, who was gambling on his political future. Remembered for having put an end to the Serenissima, the treaty of Campoformio was actually perceived by its authors as a provisional solution to give respite to a Europe weakened after years of war. The article analyzes the Udine conference as an exemplary case of negotiation, identifying its main elements – overture (need to negotiate), agenda, procedure, formula, momentum. Cobenzl masterfully managed the situation by adapting the diplomacy of balance, in which he had grown up, to the “diplomacy of convenience” necessary to create spaces for compromise. However, he did not have the same success in Rastadt, when the contradictions of French politics (the Directory vs Bonaparte) exploded, dragging the continent into new instability.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
Ludovico or Louis (Ludwig) Cobenzl was born in Brussels in 1753. His father Charles, minister ple... more Ludovico or Louis (Ludwig) Cobenzl was born in Brussels in 1753. His father Charles, minister plenipotentiary of the Austrian Netherlands, sent him at a very young age at the diplomatic school in Strasbourg, founded by Jean-Daniel Schoepflin, where the great political minds of the late 18th century – Talleyrand and Metternich – were trained. Schoepflin assiduously informed his father about Louis’s progress, until Charles Cobenzl died prematurely in 1770. The young man had to leave Strasbourg and was taken under the tutelage of his cousin Johann Philipp, forced to liquidate much of Charles’s estate to pay off the large debts he had left. Thanks to Philipp, Louis made a good marriage and entered the Austrian administration, where he understood that he was more inclined to foreign than to domestic policy. In 1775, at the age of 21, he became ambassador to Denmark and then to Prussia at the court of Frederick II’s. His big chance was to be his participation in the Teschen congress, but at the last minute an illness stopped him and he was replaced by his cousin. The emperor would have immediately consoled him with the posting of ambassador to Russia, where he remained for more than twenty years, marking an era. The diplomats of the time recognized Cobenzl as one of the most brilliant ambassadors of his time, a refined politician, and a brilliant “homme de monde”. However, his detractors did not forgive him a certain frivolity.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
The Belgian collector and diplomat Georges Englebert (1926-1995) collaborated with Count Guglielm... more The Belgian collector and diplomat Georges Englebert (1926-1995) collaborated with Count Guglielmo Coronini Cronberg (1905-1990) from Gorizia to investigate the history and legacy of the Cobenzls, which are still partly dispersed today in private properties. Among these pieces there is the travel diary that Johann Philipp Cobenzl (1741-1810) compiled while accompanying Emperor Joseph II on his famous trip to France in 1777. Englebert’s meticulous transcription, published here for the first time, offers new details on the emperor’s mission, which had not only private contours (the talks with Marie Antoinette and her husband Louis XVI) but also political and cultural ones. During the stages of the long journey across France, from north to south, Cobenzl became familiar with the emperor and turned into one of his closest confidants. However, he privileged encounters with artists over inspections of fortresses, ports and barracks – his master’s passion. The trip was above all an extraordinary political success for Austria and contributed greatly to consolidating the diplomatic “virement” devised by Kaunitz. Vienna and Paris would remain allies until 1789, when the revolution wiped out much of the world known by Philipp Cobenzl during the tour.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
A rich folder of diplomatic correspondence preserved in Gorizia and dating back to the final phas... more A rich folder of diplomatic correspondence preserved in Gorizia and dating back to the final phase of the War of the Austrian Succession has revealed the letters between the ambassadors Philipp Joseph von Rosenberg and Charles Cobenzl. They offer unpublished details of the dispute that took place at the court of Clemens August von Wittelsbach, archbishop-elector of Cologne, among the representatives of Austria and France in 1744-1746. Rosenberg asked Cobenzl for help in obtaining from the elector the dispatch of a contingent for the “Pragmatic Army” deployed by the Anglo-Habsburg allies against the French invasion of Flanders. However, Cobenzl’s skill and unscrupulousness did not help him to overcome the comfortable position of neutrality pursued by the Prince of Cologne, nor the traps of his French opponent, abbé Aunillon, whose memoirs (published in the Napoleonic era) offer another point of view of the same events. The struggle continued between ambiguities, thefts, falsifications and low blows of all kinds. In this “diplomacy of mirrors” Cobenzl managed to avoid making a bad impression on the court of Vienna, which appreciated his activism and his tireless energy in relating with the small German sovereigns gathered in the Circles of the Empire. The office of minister to the Circles, although not very coveted, became essential for the election of Francis Stephen of Lorraine as emperor in 1745, of which Cobenzl was recognized as one of the main architects.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
Over the span of two generations, the Cobenzls were capable of a spectacular social and political... more Over the span of two generations, the Cobenzls were capable of a spectacular social and political rise that led them from the peripheral seigneury of San Daniele del Carso (Štanjel) to hold prestigious positions at the court of Vienna. The authors of this progression were Giovani Filippo and Giovanni Gasparo Cobenzl, father and son, in the decades around 1700s. The first, after ruling the County of Gorizia in an era of civil unrest, became captain of Trieste for over twenty years and then of Gorizia itself where he died in 1702. The second entered the court very young and, thanks to the support of the chancellor Bucelleni and archduke Charles, gained more and more offices. Taking over from his father as captain of Gorizia, he also embarked on an administrator career which then led him to Ljubljana. Only in 1722 did Charles VI call him to Vienna as court marshal and grand chamberlain, a position he held until the emperor’s death. The career of both Cobenzls reveals how one supported the other through the dynamic centre-periphery typical of the Habsburg Monarchy, which provided for a continuous exchange of economic and power resources between the two sides. Giovanni Filippo had the intuition and the ability to keep his son in Vienna in his early years, while Giovanni Gasparo managed to remedy his father’s failure to obtain Gorizia thanks to his deep understanding of the court mechanisms.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
The successors of Giovanni (Hans) Cobenzl, his nephew and heir Filippo Cobenzl (1567-1626) – lieu... more The successors of Giovanni (Hans) Cobenzl, his nephew and heir Filippo Cobenzl (1567-1626) – lieutenant in Trieste (1597) and Gorizia (1607), vicedomino in Carniola (1602) – and the latter’s son Giovanni Gasparo Cobenzl (1610-1655), the first to bear this name, are still largely unknown. This contribution, based on an extensive use of the Cobenzl archive documents, is devoted to fill the gap. Filippo tried to continue the work of his uncle Giovanni, however without being able to achieve the same brilliant career. He was a faithful servant of the archdukes Charles and Ferdinand of Inner Austria, but considered himself to be constantly surpassed by others, though he obtained a series of valid results. A similar commitment – inspired by a desire for the family’s success – seemed to animate Giovanni Gasparo. Also due to the relationships he had established through marriage (a guarantee for economic and status improvement), he was implicated in the feuds that in the 17th century tore apart the nobility of Gorizia – and was finally overwhelmed by the interests of the dominant elite. These two figures were also largely involved in the administrative, religious and economic life of Inner Austria. In the family archive, a huge number of unpublished testimonies emerges as a sign of the Cobenzls’ participation to the main issues of the early Baroque Gorizia, thus making possible a fresh and surprising picture of this part of the Habsburg realms over more than half a century.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
The Cobenzl family, originally from the Karst near Gorizia, played a role of extraordinary import... more The Cobenzl family, originally from the Karst near Gorizia, played a role of extraordinary importance in modern Europe between 1508 and 1823 in many fields, from politics to diplomacy, from religion to art. Giovanni / Ivan / Hans Cobenzl, a true “homo novus” of the Renaissance, decisively shaped the characteristics that the family maintained until the end, tying its fortunes to those of the Habsburg dynasty. Thanks to the presence of the family archive in Gorizia, it is possible to investigate their history in depth. There may be several possible research paths, including heraldry, residences and possessions (including Palazzo Cobenzl which became the Archbishopric of Gorizia), and the story of the family members who took religious vows. The relationship between the Cobenzl and the Jesuits was of primary importance, despite Saint Ignatius having removed Hans from the Germanic College. His nephew Raffaele distinguished himself for his doctrine and organizational skills and brought the Society of Jesus to Gorizia. Some members of the family became Poor Clares and Ursulines, also assuming roles of responsibility. The last Cobenzl descendant was forced to leave the monastery of Santa Chiara due to the Josephinist reforms and she had to go back to live in her father’s house where she died. This overview serves as an introduction to the entire volume, which is the result of a multidisciplinary investigation carried by an international team of academics and scholars.
Count Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741) came from one of the most influential families of Gorizia (then... more Count Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741) came from one of the most influential families of Gorizia (then capital of the Habsburg Friuli) but hid a "double life" as a lover of fine literature and opera behind the façade of a skilled politician and official. The manuscript (Civ. 88) of his heroic-comic poem "Il viaggio a caso", preserved in the Biblioteca Statle Isontina, is still unpublished in its entirety. The work, albeit already known to his contemporaries, offers precious elements to investigate an author whose "genius for Italian poetry and ease of improvising" was praised for "a new style previously unknown to the city of Gorizia".
The article discusses the evolution of the centre-periphery relations in the Habsburg Monarchy, w... more The article discusses the evolution of the centre-periphery relations in the Habsburg Monarchy, which was upset by a profound internal reorganization under the pressure of the European conflicts at the turn of the 1700s. Th starting point is the biographical profile of the noble Gorizia official and administrator Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741), an emblematic figure who sums up in himself the practice of some values developed by the court of Vienna in an attempt to strengthen central institutions: mediation of requests for solutions agreed between different levels of government, legal and relational competence for the correct representation of interests at stake, moderation with respect to the use of violence for the solution of social conflicts. These objectives were pursued not only with the tools of courtly integration, but also through the composition of the contrasts between aristocrats and their involvement in artistic activities that aimed at spreading a shared culture.
The profile of Francesco Carlo Coronini, author of a poetic Testament highly appreciated by Casan... more The profile of Francesco Carlo Coronini, author of a poetic Testament highly appreciated by Casanova, offers unprecedented insights into 18th century Gorizia society. Coronini’s biography lies at the edge of two eras delimited by Maria Theresia’s reforms which, by compressing local autonomies, forced many nobles to seek fortune in the Habsburg army and administration. Coronini fought in the Seven Years War in the regiment of the Duke of Lorraine and, with the support of his powerful uncle Charles Cobenzl, found a place in the court of Brussels. After a prestigious marriage of interest failed, he returned to his hometown to devote himself to letters and conversations. He participated in the foundation of the Gazzetta goriziana and was a correspondent of Casanova. The Testament depicts Gorizia as a place open to the most updated European cultural trends.
General Rodolfo Rabatta (1636-1688), from an ancient Gorizia family, is considered one of the mos... more General Rodolfo Rabatta (1636-1688), from an ancient Gorizia family, is considered one of the most brilliant military commanders of the Habsburg Monarchy. Its decisive contribution to the Austrian victory in the siege of Vienna (1683) and to the subsequent Austro-Turkish war is due to innovations in the logistic chain and in the improvement of the conditions of the soldiers thanks to a solid supply network and the creation of military field hospitals. Rabatta, unlike his contemporaries, prevented the army from plundering the occupied territories to obtain supplies. The essay clarifies the family origins, the marriage with the daughter of the vice president of the Imperial War Council of Vienna and the reasons behind the choice of the military career made by Rabatta, who became the protagonist of the liberation of Buda (1686), integrating sources such as contemporary chronicles with the examination of the gazettes of the time.
Conductor, composer and teacher, Francesco Mander was a protagonist of the music scene for about ... more Conductor, composer and teacher, Francesco Mander was a protagonist of the music scene for about thirty years from the end of the Second World War to the seventies. Acclaimed by the public and critics, he was a guest of the major theatres and concert halls all over the world, demanded both by the orchestras and the most important soloists. However, his career ended unexpectedly in a small and peripheral town like Gorizia, in the far north-east of Italy, where he lived a "second youth" as director of the local musical institute. The article illustrates Mander's biography for the first time with unpublished materials. In the appendix the catalog of his compositions and surviving recordings.
The Cobenzls were an extraordinary family that distinguished itself in one of the most surprising... more The Cobenzls were an extraordinary family that distinguished itself in one of the most surprising (but still almost unknown) social rises of the Upper Adriatic region in 1500-1800. Since the very first, they were able to deal with Europe's leaders, such as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Ivan the Terrible, Christina of Sweden, Charles VI, Maria Theresa, Frederick II of Prussia, Catherine of Russia, and Napoleon. At the same time, they were patrons of many artists, such as Mozart, Da Ponte, Caucig, Meytens, and David.
The Cobenzl family came from the small village of San Daniele del Carso/Štanjel near Gorizia, and built its fortune from generation to generation in the service of the Habsburgs. They became famous throughout Europe in the fields of politics, diplomacy, philosophy, and art.
The "Relatione delle cose di Moscovia" (1576) by Giovanni Cobenzl (1530-1594) was the result of an adventurous journey across the steppes and ice, will be the basis of western knowledge about Russia. Two centuries later, Giovanni Filippo Cobenzl (1741-1810) accompanied Emperor Joseph II on a tour of pre-revolutionary France, leaving behind a diary full of unpublished information. These are just two examples among many that emerge from research that places Gorizia regional history in its proper European context, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers.
The history of the family -- whose rich archive is preserved in Gorizia -- has been investigated for the first time in depth, thanks to the collaboration of 32 scholars from 8 different countries and in the light of the most recent historiographical approaches. Gorizia, Vienna, Ljubljana, Trieste, Brussels, Paris, Moscow and Saint. Petersburg are just some of the scenarios of this vast fresco that sees the Cobenzl legacy still alive in the Hermitage, the Royal Academy of Belgium, in castles such as Predjama and the Postumia caves, in Slovenia, Friuli, and Vienna, where Cobenzl became the name of an entire suburb.
In the 18th century Gorizia and Trieste experienced an extraordinary period of development and be... more In the 18th century Gorizia and Trieste experienced an extraordinary period of development and became the destination of travellers, intellectuals, aristocrats and adventurers, including the most famous of them all: Giacomo Casanova. Seeking Venice's forgiveness, the libertine travelled to the two cities (then part of the Habsburg Empire) with a dossier of notes to submit to a willing publisher, a wealth of experiences to recount, and the hunger of one who has to match lunch with dinner. Yeah, and the women? There are many: from the beautiful Luisa (Countess Lantieri) to the "perfect beauty" of Lenzica, Count Strassoldo's maid, protagonist of daring adventures. All this is narrated in the book, with a few detours to Udine and Venice, to the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni.
Giovanni Battista Verda, Count Verdenberg, was one of the most influential ministers of the court... more Giovanni Battista Verda, Count Verdenberg, was one of the most influential ministers of the court of Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg. He was founder of the Austrian Chancellery in Vienna and a skilled jurist and diplomat. Verdenberg became a protagonist in the age of European conflicts, the wars in Bohemia, the succession of Mantua and Monferrato, the Affaire d'Aquilée and the Thirty Years' War. As a close collaborator of Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, he served under the emperors Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III in Gorizia, Graz and Vienna. Verdenberg became one of the richest men in Austria, Bohemia and Moravia. He had his castles, palaces, churches, convents and funerary monuments in Vienna, Grafenegg, Náměšť nad Oslavou and Strass im Strassertal decorated in the Baroque style and adorned them with valuable works by Frans Luycx, Friedrich Stoll and Giovanni Pietro de Pomis. In his hometown, Gorizia, he donated Palazzo Verdenberg to the Jesuits who established the college and the library which later became the Biblioteca Statale Isontina.
It is a story of "first times" that of Gorizia diplomats who, between the 14th and 16th centuries... more It is a story of "first times" that of Gorizia diplomats who, between the 14th and 16th centuries, ventured into missions on behalf of the most diverse lords, from the counts of Gorizia to the patriarchs of Aquileia, from the Carraresi of Padua to the Habsburgs: the first "Germanic" ambassadors in Russia and at the Ottoman Gate are in reality noblemen from Gorizia.
Thus an "external history" of the County of Gorizia unfolds "from wider perspectives" only apparently distant from traditional historiography. Venice and Vienna are protagonists in this "autumn of the Middle Ages", together with Budapest, Rome and other centres of power in which designs, perhaps too ambitious, aim to unite the powers of the continent around the emperor.
Almost twenty years after the publication of the latest organic studies on the Gorizia Middle Ages (Da Ottone III a Massimiliano I), a new contribution to the rediscovery of the "European dimension" of a territory-bridge between three civilizations: Italian, German and Slavic.
Who was the first Westerner to sign a treaty with the emperor of Japan? Who managed the peace in ... more Who was the first Westerner to sign a treaty with the emperor of Japan? Who managed the peace in the Balkans, the "powder keg of Europe", for thirty years by the merely tools of diplomacy? Who was emperor Franz Joseph's closest adviser for Eastern policy? Who became the dean of the ambassadors of Europe at the zenith of imperialism? Who was the most influential figure coming from Gorizia in the nineteenth century? How could a small borderland town get at the top of international diplomacy? The life and work of Enrico de Calice (1831-1912), still little known long-lived protagonist of the foreign policy of seven empires: Austro-Hungarian, British, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German and Ottoman. More than fifty years of history through the glasses of diplomacy, meant as the "art of peace" in the era of imperialism and triumphant colonialism at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
[Heinrich von Calice, ein görzer Diplomat zwischen Ostasien und dem Goldenen Horn]
Studia historica adriatica ac danubiana, 16(1-2), 2023
A manuscript from the Biblioteca Statale Isontina in Gorizia is published here for the first time... more A manuscript from the Biblioteca Statale Isontina in Gorizia is published here for the first time in its entirety on the basis of the original text. It contains the only surviving literary work by Count Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741), an influential member of the Habsburg government in the North Adriatic region. “Il viaggio a caso” (The Random Journey) is a heroicomic poem set in Hungary at the time of Emperor Charles VI, which mixes imaginary or ‘en travesti’ characters with real ones such as the painter Peter Strudel (1648-1708), founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Rabatta foreshadows in the co-star his brother Raymond Ferdinand, Bishop of Passau and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (1713-1722). The poem’s literary plot highlights the points of contact between Italian, Germanic and Hungarian cultural circles at a time of transition between the Jesuitically influenced Baroque sensibility and the poet’s veiled scepticism, which finds vent in a biting and sometimes bitter satire.
During the 17th century, political practice in the County of Gorizia – in which the nobles contin... more During the 17th century, political practice in the County of Gorizia – in which the nobles continued to be the absolute protagonists – changed significantly from the extensive use of violence to a stricter observance of rules and formalities to regulate conflicts and distribute resources. This transformation coincided with the coming of Eleonora Gonzaga, Marchioness of Luzzara and wife of one of the strongest feudal lords in the upper Adriatic region, the Della Torre/Thurns. The direct relationship between the noblewoman and her namesake relative, Empress Eleanor I, protected her acquired family from the self-destructive conflict that was tearing it apart and plunging the entire County of Gorizia into anarchy. Eleonora, making the best use of the instruments of influence available to her as a woman, was able to introduce the archetypes of government learned in her home town of Mantua, modifying the tried-and-true constitution of the County and contributing to its effective integration into the Habsburg monarchy.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
«The Rastadt congress was simply Germanic, the Lunéville congress would be European: the most gra... more «The Rastadt congress was simply Germanic, the Lunéville congress would be European: the most grandiose spectacle». Actually, Austrian foreign policy in 1800-1805 found itself alone in facing the French overwhelming power led by Napoleon. Louis Cobenzl understood that only by profoundly renewing the state would it be possible to save the Habsburg monarchy from sinking. Cobenzl took note of the liquidation of the Holy Roman Empire and focused Vienna’s attention towards the Italian peninsula. He adopted as a strategic doctrine the “containment based on deterrence”. In his analysis it was inevitable to move from dialectical confrontation to the clash. But the real problem was time. Was there enough time to create a revamped and vital “Empire of Austria” before Napoleon made it a puppet in his hands? The Cobenzls – Louis vice-chancellor in Vienna, Philipp ambassador in Paris – led foreign policy but the general direction of the government essentially slipped out of their hands. Too many centres of power (minister Colloredo, archduke Charles, generals like Mack) influenced emperor Francis. To regain the initiative and relaunch Austria’s future as a great power, Louis Cobenzl bet on war – and lost. But the path he had traced allowed his former pupil Metternich to prepare revenge and redraw the map of Europe.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
In 1796, the ruin of the Italian states exposed Austria to a mortal and unknown danger: France ar... more In 1796, the ruin of the Italian states exposed Austria to a mortal and unknown danger: France arrived at the gates of the Monarchy thanks to the successes of Bonaparte. In his advance, the young general violated the neutrality of the Republic of Venice, causing its political collapse. Then he crossed the Alps and camped in Leoben. In this context of desperation, Minister Thugut called “the best diplomat of the empire” to negotiate peace with Napoleon. Travelling in forced stages, the ambassador took his instructions in Vienna – which left him great freedom. Arriving in Friuli, Cobenzl faced a very tough confrontation with the Frenchman, who was gambling on his political future. Remembered for having put an end to the Serenissima, the treaty of Campoformio was actually perceived by its authors as a provisional solution to give respite to a Europe weakened after years of war. The article analyzes the Udine conference as an exemplary case of negotiation, identifying its main elements – overture (need to negotiate), agenda, procedure, formula, momentum. Cobenzl masterfully managed the situation by adapting the diplomacy of balance, in which he had grown up, to the “diplomacy of convenience” necessary to create spaces for compromise. However, he did not have the same success in Rastadt, when the contradictions of French politics (the Directory vs Bonaparte) exploded, dragging the continent into new instability.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
Ludovico or Louis (Ludwig) Cobenzl was born in Brussels in 1753. His father Charles, minister ple... more Ludovico or Louis (Ludwig) Cobenzl was born in Brussels in 1753. His father Charles, minister plenipotentiary of the Austrian Netherlands, sent him at a very young age at the diplomatic school in Strasbourg, founded by Jean-Daniel Schoepflin, where the great political minds of the late 18th century – Talleyrand and Metternich – were trained. Schoepflin assiduously informed his father about Louis’s progress, until Charles Cobenzl died prematurely in 1770. The young man had to leave Strasbourg and was taken under the tutelage of his cousin Johann Philipp, forced to liquidate much of Charles’s estate to pay off the large debts he had left. Thanks to Philipp, Louis made a good marriage and entered the Austrian administration, where he understood that he was more inclined to foreign than to domestic policy. In 1775, at the age of 21, he became ambassador to Denmark and then to Prussia at the court of Frederick II’s. His big chance was to be his participation in the Teschen congress, but at the last minute an illness stopped him and he was replaced by his cousin. The emperor would have immediately consoled him with the posting of ambassador to Russia, where he remained for more than twenty years, marking an era. The diplomats of the time recognized Cobenzl as one of the most brilliant ambassadors of his time, a refined politician, and a brilliant “homme de monde”. However, his detractors did not forgive him a certain frivolity.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
The Belgian collector and diplomat Georges Englebert (1926-1995) collaborated with Count Guglielm... more The Belgian collector and diplomat Georges Englebert (1926-1995) collaborated with Count Guglielmo Coronini Cronberg (1905-1990) from Gorizia to investigate the history and legacy of the Cobenzls, which are still partly dispersed today in private properties. Among these pieces there is the travel diary that Johann Philipp Cobenzl (1741-1810) compiled while accompanying Emperor Joseph II on his famous trip to France in 1777. Englebert’s meticulous transcription, published here for the first time, offers new details on the emperor’s mission, which had not only private contours (the talks with Marie Antoinette and her husband Louis XVI) but also political and cultural ones. During the stages of the long journey across France, from north to south, Cobenzl became familiar with the emperor and turned into one of his closest confidants. However, he privileged encounters with artists over inspections of fortresses, ports and barracks – his master’s passion. The trip was above all an extraordinary political success for Austria and contributed greatly to consolidating the diplomatic “virement” devised by Kaunitz. Vienna and Paris would remain allies until 1789, when the revolution wiped out much of the world known by Philipp Cobenzl during the tour.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
A rich folder of diplomatic correspondence preserved in Gorizia and dating back to the final phas... more A rich folder of diplomatic correspondence preserved in Gorizia and dating back to the final phase of the War of the Austrian Succession has revealed the letters between the ambassadors Philipp Joseph von Rosenberg and Charles Cobenzl. They offer unpublished details of the dispute that took place at the court of Clemens August von Wittelsbach, archbishop-elector of Cologne, among the representatives of Austria and France in 1744-1746. Rosenberg asked Cobenzl for help in obtaining from the elector the dispatch of a contingent for the “Pragmatic Army” deployed by the Anglo-Habsburg allies against the French invasion of Flanders. However, Cobenzl’s skill and unscrupulousness did not help him to overcome the comfortable position of neutrality pursued by the Prince of Cologne, nor the traps of his French opponent, abbé Aunillon, whose memoirs (published in the Napoleonic era) offer another point of view of the same events. The struggle continued between ambiguities, thefts, falsifications and low blows of all kinds. In this “diplomacy of mirrors” Cobenzl managed to avoid making a bad impression on the court of Vienna, which appreciated his activism and his tireless energy in relating with the small German sovereigns gathered in the Circles of the Empire. The office of minister to the Circles, although not very coveted, became essential for the election of Francis Stephen of Lorraine as emperor in 1745, of which Cobenzl was recognized as one of the main architects.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
Over the span of two generations, the Cobenzls were capable of a spectacular social and political... more Over the span of two generations, the Cobenzls were capable of a spectacular social and political rise that led them from the peripheral seigneury of San Daniele del Carso (Štanjel) to hold prestigious positions at the court of Vienna. The authors of this progression were Giovani Filippo and Giovanni Gasparo Cobenzl, father and son, in the decades around 1700s. The first, after ruling the County of Gorizia in an era of civil unrest, became captain of Trieste for over twenty years and then of Gorizia itself where he died in 1702. The second entered the court very young and, thanks to the support of the chancellor Bucelleni and archduke Charles, gained more and more offices. Taking over from his father as captain of Gorizia, he also embarked on an administrator career which then led him to Ljubljana. Only in 1722 did Charles VI call him to Vienna as court marshal and grand chamberlain, a position he held until the emperor’s death. The career of both Cobenzls reveals how one supported the other through the dynamic centre-periphery typical of the Habsburg Monarchy, which provided for a continuous exchange of economic and power resources between the two sides. Giovanni Filippo had the intuition and the ability to keep his son in Vienna in his early years, while Giovanni Gasparo managed to remedy his father’s failure to obtain Gorizia thanks to his deep understanding of the court mechanisms.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
The successors of Giovanni (Hans) Cobenzl, his nephew and heir Filippo Cobenzl (1567-1626) – lieu... more The successors of Giovanni (Hans) Cobenzl, his nephew and heir Filippo Cobenzl (1567-1626) – lieutenant in Trieste (1597) and Gorizia (1607), vicedomino in Carniola (1602) – and the latter’s son Giovanni Gasparo Cobenzl (1610-1655), the first to bear this name, are still largely unknown. This contribution, based on an extensive use of the Cobenzl archive documents, is devoted to fill the gap. Filippo tried to continue the work of his uncle Giovanni, however without being able to achieve the same brilliant career. He was a faithful servant of the archdukes Charles and Ferdinand of Inner Austria, but considered himself to be constantly surpassed by others, though he obtained a series of valid results. A similar commitment – inspired by a desire for the family’s success – seemed to animate Giovanni Gasparo. Also due to the relationships he had established through marriage (a guarantee for economic and status improvement), he was implicated in the feuds that in the 17th century tore apart the nobility of Gorizia – and was finally overwhelmed by the interests of the dominant elite. These two figures were also largely involved in the administrative, religious and economic life of Inner Austria. In the family archive, a huge number of unpublished testimonies emerges as a sign of the Cobenzls’ participation to the main issues of the early Baroque Gorizia, thus making possible a fresh and surprising picture of this part of the Habsburg realms over more than half a century.
I Cobenzl. Una famiglia europea tra politica, arte e diplomazia (1508-1823), 2022
The Cobenzl family, originally from the Karst near Gorizia, played a role of extraordinary import... more The Cobenzl family, originally from the Karst near Gorizia, played a role of extraordinary importance in modern Europe between 1508 and 1823 in many fields, from politics to diplomacy, from religion to art. Giovanni / Ivan / Hans Cobenzl, a true “homo novus” of the Renaissance, decisively shaped the characteristics that the family maintained until the end, tying its fortunes to those of the Habsburg dynasty. Thanks to the presence of the family archive in Gorizia, it is possible to investigate their history in depth. There may be several possible research paths, including heraldry, residences and possessions (including Palazzo Cobenzl which became the Archbishopric of Gorizia), and the story of the family members who took religious vows. The relationship between the Cobenzl and the Jesuits was of primary importance, despite Saint Ignatius having removed Hans from the Germanic College. His nephew Raffaele distinguished himself for his doctrine and organizational skills and brought the Society of Jesus to Gorizia. Some members of the family became Poor Clares and Ursulines, also assuming roles of responsibility. The last Cobenzl descendant was forced to leave the monastery of Santa Chiara due to the Josephinist reforms and she had to go back to live in her father’s house where she died. This overview serves as an introduction to the entire volume, which is the result of a multidisciplinary investigation carried by an international team of academics and scholars.
Count Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741) came from one of the most influential families of Gorizia (then... more Count Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741) came from one of the most influential families of Gorizia (then capital of the Habsburg Friuli) but hid a "double life" as a lover of fine literature and opera behind the façade of a skilled politician and official. The manuscript (Civ. 88) of his heroic-comic poem "Il viaggio a caso", preserved in the Biblioteca Statle Isontina, is still unpublished in its entirety. The work, albeit already known to his contemporaries, offers precious elements to investigate an author whose "genius for Italian poetry and ease of improvising" was praised for "a new style previously unknown to the city of Gorizia".
The article discusses the evolution of the centre-periphery relations in the Habsburg Monarchy, w... more The article discusses the evolution of the centre-periphery relations in the Habsburg Monarchy, which was upset by a profound internal reorganization under the pressure of the European conflicts at the turn of the 1700s. Th starting point is the biographical profile of the noble Gorizia official and administrator Antonio Rabatta (1659-1741), an emblematic figure who sums up in himself the practice of some values developed by the court of Vienna in an attempt to strengthen central institutions: mediation of requests for solutions agreed between different levels of government, legal and relational competence for the correct representation of interests at stake, moderation with respect to the use of violence for the solution of social conflicts. These objectives were pursued not only with the tools of courtly integration, but also through the composition of the contrasts between aristocrats and their involvement in artistic activities that aimed at spreading a shared culture.
The profile of Francesco Carlo Coronini, author of a poetic Testament highly appreciated by Casan... more The profile of Francesco Carlo Coronini, author of a poetic Testament highly appreciated by Casanova, offers unprecedented insights into 18th century Gorizia society. Coronini’s biography lies at the edge of two eras delimited by Maria Theresia’s reforms which, by compressing local autonomies, forced many nobles to seek fortune in the Habsburg army and administration. Coronini fought in the Seven Years War in the regiment of the Duke of Lorraine and, with the support of his powerful uncle Charles Cobenzl, found a place in the court of Brussels. After a prestigious marriage of interest failed, he returned to his hometown to devote himself to letters and conversations. He participated in the foundation of the Gazzetta goriziana and was a correspondent of Casanova. The Testament depicts Gorizia as a place open to the most updated European cultural trends.
General Rodolfo Rabatta (1636-1688), from an ancient Gorizia family, is considered one of the mos... more General Rodolfo Rabatta (1636-1688), from an ancient Gorizia family, is considered one of the most brilliant military commanders of the Habsburg Monarchy. Its decisive contribution to the Austrian victory in the siege of Vienna (1683) and to the subsequent Austro-Turkish war is due to innovations in the logistic chain and in the improvement of the conditions of the soldiers thanks to a solid supply network and the creation of military field hospitals. Rabatta, unlike his contemporaries, prevented the army from plundering the occupied territories to obtain supplies. The essay clarifies the family origins, the marriage with the daughter of the vice president of the Imperial War Council of Vienna and the reasons behind the choice of the military career made by Rabatta, who became the protagonist of the liberation of Buda (1686), integrating sources such as contemporary chronicles with the examination of the gazettes of the time.
Conductor, composer and teacher, Francesco Mander was a protagonist of the music scene for about ... more Conductor, composer and teacher, Francesco Mander was a protagonist of the music scene for about thirty years from the end of the Second World War to the seventies. Acclaimed by the public and critics, he was a guest of the major theatres and concert halls all over the world, demanded both by the orchestras and the most important soloists. However, his career ended unexpectedly in a small and peripheral town like Gorizia, in the far north-east of Italy, where he lived a "second youth" as director of the local musical institute. The article illustrates Mander's biography for the first time with unpublished materials. In the appendix the catalog of his compositions and surviving recordings.
Rivista di Studi Politici Internazionali, 86/3, 2019
As revealed from the partly unpublished diplomatic documents examined for this research, the open... more As revealed from the partly unpublished diplomatic documents examined for this research, the opening of the Italian diplomatic mission in Amman in the summer of 1949 was the result of a negotiation lasted just over two years and undertaken in the aftermath of the Paris peace treaty, which opened a new phase for Italian foreign policy. The political leaders of the time, De Gasperi, Sforza and Moro, were determined to create new relations of friendship and collaboration with the countries of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The young Hashemite kingdom also sought to extend its network of international relations, with the aim of strengthening its independence and pursuing the designs of the “Greater Syria” cherished by King Abdullah. Italy initially did not intend to open a new diplomatic mission in Amman: for this reason it proposed accrediting firstly the consul general in Jerusalem, and then the minister of Italy in Baghdad, as a representative in Transjordan. Considering the delays in negotiations with Iraq, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs then decided to appoint the consul in Jerusalem, Giacomo Silimbani, as chargé d’affaires in Amman. He started relations with the Hashemite court, obtained the restitution of the Italian assets seized during the second world war and was able to win the trust of the local authorities. In 1948, the Palestinian question accelerated the definition of Italian-Jordanian relations. Rome, careful to maintain a balanced position in the Middle East, after recognizing de facto the State of Israel decided to open a legation in Amman, despite the small size of the country (then with only 300.000 inhabitants) and of the Italian interests. Pier Luigi La Terza, appointed Minister in Amman, presented his credentials to Abdullah on August 14, 1949. The Italian diplomat described the king with words of praise and admiration even after the his death at the hands of a Palestinian militant in 1951.
Gorizia. Studi e ricerche per il LXXXIX convegno della Deputazione di Storia patria per il Friuli, a cura di S. Cavazza e P. Iancis, Udine 2018, pp. 162-180, 2018
Giovanni Pompeo Coronini belonged to the numerous group of diplomats from Gorizia who distinguish... more Giovanni Pompeo Coronini belonged to the numerous group of diplomats from Gorizia who distinguished themselves in the service of the Habsburg dinasty. Taking part in two missions in Constantinople (1665-1666) and Krakow (1666-1667) on behalf of Emperor Leopold I, Coronini contributed to the revival of the Habsburg's eastern policy, in a relatively quiet period between the end of the Thirty Years' War (1648) and the siege of Vienna (1683).
The article illustrates the origin and development of secretary of legation until the modern age,... more The article illustrates the origin and development of secretary of legation until the modern age, focusing on an unpublished document by Raimondo della Torre, imperial ambassador to Rome from 1596 to 1603, from State Archives of Trieste.
The transition from Napoleonic administration of the Illyrian Provinces to that of the Habsburg M... more The transition from Napoleonic administration of the Illyrian Provinces to that of the Habsburg Monarchy, even in the Littoral of Trieste, did not mark a simple restoration of the conservative order but a transitional period, little studied from the point of view of social and cultural history. While historiography has so far been mainly concerned with institutional changes, including the incorporation of French models and the substantial overcoming of the previous 'society of orders', it has failed to account for the cultural ferments that preceded 1848, taking it for granted that the outcome of the Restoration could only be the struggle between the nascent nationalities and the oppressive restoration of Vienna. On the contrary, the years around 1836 were surprisingly dynamic economically, with sudden steps forward and sudden stops leading to the subsequent revolutionary crisis. The case of Gorizia, a town little exposed to the liberal ferments of other central European territories, represents an interesting case study here approached both from a relational and global perspective through concrete examples taken from archival sources.
The episcopate of Raimondo Antonio Strassoldo-Villanova-Ranziano (Raymund Anton Graf Strasoldo) (... more The episcopate of Raimondo Antonio Strassoldo-Villanova-Ranziano (Raymund Anton Graf Strasoldo) (1718-1781), Bishop of Eichstätt (1757-1781), represents an only partially realised attempt at ecclesiastical renewal as an alternative to the Enlightenment models promoved by the state and the suppression of the Jesuits applied by Pope Clement XIV. Strassoldo launched energetic measures in the pastoral and social fields, dedicated himself to the education of clergy and people and the economic, building and artistic expansion of the small principality. Although he never returned to his homeland, Gorizia, he maintained affective ties with his home town where he was appreciated as one of the illustrious citizens.
A young man runs away from home to pursue a dream: becoming a Jesuit. Count Guidobaldo Cobenzl (1... more A young man runs away from home to pursue a dream: becoming a Jesuit. Count Guidobaldo Cobenzl (1716-1797) secretly leaves on 23 March 1729 and plunges his family into chaos. His gesture imitates that of Saint Stanislaus Kostka but does not have the same heroic connotations: in a few hours he is discovered and brought back to his parents. This case represents one of the very few life testimonies of a youngster from Gorizia in the modern age. Mentality, thoughts and expectations of youth in that period are today almost completely unknown due to the lack of direct sources from non-adults before the 19th century.
The castle is the symbol of Gorizia in Friuli. Considered an exclusively medieval monument after ... more The castle is the symbol of Gorizia in Friuli. Considered an exclusively medieval monument after its reconstruction completed in 1937 following the First World War, the castle nevertheless played a considerable role in the modern age. It carried out three functions: representation of the power of the Habsburg ruler, defense from external (Venetians and French) enemies and detention of criminals. The castle was the official residence of the captain of the County of Gorizia. The archival documents illustrate the renovation and expansion works that gave the monument its almost final shape around 1700, when it mainly lost its military function – but as garrison and prison, the castle of Gorizia remained in use until 1914.
The fascist attack on Yugoslavia in 1941 led to the occupation of southern Slovenia and its annex... more The fascist attack on Yugoslavia in 1941 led to the occupation of southern Slovenia and its annexation to Italy as the Province of Lubiana: it was the only case in which the use of a language other than Italian was allowed, even in the postal service.
This article summarizes the biography of the General Rodolfo Rabatta (1636-1688), from an ancient... more This article summarizes the biography of the General Rodolfo Rabatta (1636-1688), from an ancient Gorizia family, who is considered one of the most brilliant military commanders of the Habsburg Monarchy. Its decisive contribution to the Austrian victory in the siege of Vienna (1683) and to the subsequent Austro-Turkish war is due to innovations in the logistic chain and in the improvement of the conditions of the soldiers thanks to a solid supply network and the creation of military field hospitals. Rabatta, unlike his contemporaries, prevented the army from plundering the occupied territories to obtain supplies. The family origins, the marriage with the daughter of the vice president of the Imperial War Council of Vienna were relevant elements behind the choice of the military career made by Rabatta, who became the protagonist of the liberation of Buda (1686). The portrait of Rodolfo Rabatta preserved in the collection of Palazzo Coronini Cronberg in Gorizia is presented for the first time; it has been identified thanks to the comparison with prints and engravings of the time.
The unique experience of the territory crossing the Isonzo river, divided by the Paris peace trea... more The unique experience of the territory crossing the Isonzo river, divided by the Paris peace treaty of 1947 and reunited by the enlargement of Europe, has its centre in the town of Gorizia.
In less than a hundred years, from 1850 to 1947, the post in Gorizia has changed hands several ti... more In less than a hundred years, from 1850 to 1947, the post in Gorizia has changed hands several times, from the Habsburgs to the Savoy, from Mussolini to Hitler, up to Tito and the Anglo-American Allies.
The name Cobenzl belongs to the most notable family from Gorizia in the modern age Europe; yet it... more The name Cobenzl belongs to the most notable family from Gorizia in the modern age Europe; yet its story has remained largely untold. The Cobenzls played a considerable role in the Central European region for three centuries, with many important figures, such as diplomat Hans Cobenzl, jesuit Raphael, and statesmen Johann Caspar, Johann Philipp and Louis Cobenzl. Although many of their archive records still survive, they have been little studied. Around this family a wide-ranging project has been conceived to relaunch the study of history and disciplines related to the modern age in the upper Adriatic region around Gorizia through an international team of 32 scholars belonging to 22 universities and institutes from 8 countries (Italy, Austria, Slovenia, France, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany and Belarus).
This educational article summarizes the history of the main diplomats coming from Gorizia since t... more This educational article summarizes the history of the main diplomats coming from Gorizia since the 14th century and suggests reference reading for each of them.
The article presents and analyses the new museum estalished by the municipality of Gradisca d'Iso... more The article presents and analyses the new museum estalished by the municipality of Gradisca d'Isonzo (Italy, in Friuli Venezia Giulia region) under the coordination of historian and archivist Lucia Pillon. The museum marks an innovative step in museography in the region and is part of a more comprehensive cultural project led by local institutions. The catalogue of the museum deserves a special attention for its deep and accurate documentation based on an extensive research.
The article discusses the Eastern Asia Expedition in 1868-1869 and the sucessful Japan mission of... more The article discusses the Eastern Asia Expedition in 1868-1869 and the sucessful Japan mission of Austrian-Hungarian diplomat Enrico de Calice [Heinrich von Calice], a native of Gorizia (now Italy) who exchanged the first treaty between the Austrian-Hungarian and the Japanese Empire in 1872. He later led the Habsburg Embassy in Constantinople, ending his long career in 1908 with a record long-standing mission of 28 years in the Ottoman Empire. He was very popular in the international press, especially in British newspapers, as his wife was born in Liverpool. He died in 1912, not only mourned by emperor Francis Joseph, but also commemorated by a number of superlative articles.
The article analyses Jordan's postal history from three points of view: the functioning of the po... more The article analyses Jordan's postal history from three points of view: the functioning of the postal system, philately and relations with Italy.
L'articolo illustra la situazione dei cristiani in Giordania con particolare riguardo ai cattolic... more L'articolo illustra la situazione dei cristiani in Giordania con particolare riguardo ai cattolici (Custodia francescana di Terra Santa, Patriarcato Latino di Gerusalemme, Caritas) e alla presenza degli italiani (Ospedali italiani e ONG).
L'articolo ripercorre la storia del negoziato intercipriota e i temi affrontati nei colloqui svol... more L'articolo ripercorre la storia del negoziato intercipriota e i temi affrontati nei colloqui svoltisi a Crans Montana nel gennaio 2017
Review of "Maria Luisa de Borbón (1745–1792) Großherzogin der
Toskana und Kaiserin in ihrer Zeit"... more Review of "Maria Luisa de Borbón (1745–1792) Großherzogin der Toskana und Kaiserin in ihrer Zeit" by Renate Zedinger
Review of "Österreich-Ungarn, Deutschland und der Friede. Oktober 1916 bis November 1918" by Geor... more Review of "Österreich-Ungarn, Deutschland und der Friede. Oktober 1916 bis November 1918" by Georg Stacher
Review of the collective book "The Habsburg Monarchy and the Thirty Years War", edited by Katrin ... more Review of the collective book "The Habsburg Monarchy and the Thirty Years War", edited by Katrin Keller and Martin Scheutz and published by Böhlau Verlag (2020)
Review of the book "La splendida. Venezia 1499-1509" by Alessandro Marzo Magno published by Later... more Review of the book "La splendida. Venezia 1499-1509" by Alessandro Marzo Magno published by Laterza (2019)
Review of the first volume of the collective work "Administrative history of the Habsburg monarch... more Review of the first volume of the collective work "Administrative history of the Habsburg monarchy in the early modern period" devoted to "Court and dynasty, emperor and empire, central administrations, warfare and sovereign finance" published by Böhlau Verlag (2019)
Review of "Documents and memorial sources on the older history of the Rosazzo Monastery" by Reinh... more Review of "Documents and memorial sources on the older history of the Rosazzo Monastery" by Reinhald Härtel and Cesare Scalon
Cinque volte presidente del Consiglio, otto volte ministro (Esteri, Interni, Agricoltura), costit... more Cinque volte presidente del Consiglio, otto volte ministro (Esteri, Interni, Agricoltura), costituente, deputato per sette legislature, senatore per tre, parlamentare europeo, segretario del più grande partito italiano per cinque anni. Basterebbero questi pochi dati per definire la levatura di Mariano Rumor, uno degli statisti della cosiddetta Prima repubblica tra i più dimenticati, nonostante le realizzazioni dei governi che lo ebbero come guida tra il 1968 e il 1974.
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Books by Federico Vidic
The Cobenzl family came from the small village of San Daniele del Carso/Štanjel near Gorizia, and built its fortune from generation to generation in the service of the Habsburgs. They became famous throughout Europe in the fields of politics, diplomacy, philosophy, and art.
The "Relatione delle cose di Moscovia" (1576) by Giovanni Cobenzl (1530-1594) was the result of an adventurous journey across the steppes and ice, will be the basis of western knowledge about Russia. Two centuries later, Giovanni Filippo Cobenzl (1741-1810) accompanied Emperor Joseph II on a tour of pre-revolutionary France, leaving behind a diary full of unpublished information. These are just two examples among many that emerge from research that places Gorizia regional history in its proper European context, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers.
The history of the family -- whose rich archive is preserved in Gorizia -- has been investigated for the first time in depth, thanks to the collaboration of 32 scholars from 8 different countries and in the light of the most recent historiographical approaches. Gorizia, Vienna, Ljubljana, Trieste, Brussels, Paris, Moscow and Saint. Petersburg are just some of the scenarios of this vast fresco that sees the Cobenzl legacy still alive in the Hermitage, the Royal Academy of Belgium, in castles such as Predjama and the Postumia caves, in Slovenia, Friuli, and Vienna, where Cobenzl became the name of an entire suburb.
Thus an "external history" of the County of Gorizia unfolds "from wider perspectives" only apparently distant from traditional historiography. Venice and Vienna are protagonists in this "autumn of the Middle Ages", together with Budapest, Rome and other centres of power in which designs, perhaps too ambitious, aim to unite the powers of the continent around the emperor.
Almost twenty years after the publication of the latest organic studies on the Gorizia Middle Ages (Da Ottone III a Massimiliano I), a new contribution to the rediscovery of the "European dimension" of a territory-bridge between three civilizations: Italian, German and Slavic.
The life and work of Enrico de Calice (1831-1912), still little known long-lived protagonist of the foreign policy of seven empires: Austro-Hungarian, British, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German and Ottoman. More than fifty years of history through the glasses of diplomacy, meant as the "art of peace" in the era of imperialism and triumphant colonialism at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
[Heinrich von Calice, ein görzer Diplomat zwischen Ostasien und dem Goldenen Horn]
Papers by Federico Vidic
The Cobenzl family came from the small village of San Daniele del Carso/Štanjel near Gorizia, and built its fortune from generation to generation in the service of the Habsburgs. They became famous throughout Europe in the fields of politics, diplomacy, philosophy, and art.
The "Relatione delle cose di Moscovia" (1576) by Giovanni Cobenzl (1530-1594) was the result of an adventurous journey across the steppes and ice, will be the basis of western knowledge about Russia. Two centuries later, Giovanni Filippo Cobenzl (1741-1810) accompanied Emperor Joseph II on a tour of pre-revolutionary France, leaving behind a diary full of unpublished information. These are just two examples among many that emerge from research that places Gorizia regional history in its proper European context, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers.
The history of the family -- whose rich archive is preserved in Gorizia -- has been investigated for the first time in depth, thanks to the collaboration of 32 scholars from 8 different countries and in the light of the most recent historiographical approaches. Gorizia, Vienna, Ljubljana, Trieste, Brussels, Paris, Moscow and Saint. Petersburg are just some of the scenarios of this vast fresco that sees the Cobenzl legacy still alive in the Hermitage, the Royal Academy of Belgium, in castles such as Predjama and the Postumia caves, in Slovenia, Friuli, and Vienna, where Cobenzl became the name of an entire suburb.
Thus an "external history" of the County of Gorizia unfolds "from wider perspectives" only apparently distant from traditional historiography. Venice and Vienna are protagonists in this "autumn of the Middle Ages", together with Budapest, Rome and other centres of power in which designs, perhaps too ambitious, aim to unite the powers of the continent around the emperor.
Almost twenty years after the publication of the latest organic studies on the Gorizia Middle Ages (Da Ottone III a Massimiliano I), a new contribution to the rediscovery of the "European dimension" of a territory-bridge between three civilizations: Italian, German and Slavic.
The life and work of Enrico de Calice (1831-1912), still little known long-lived protagonist of the foreign policy of seven empires: Austro-Hungarian, British, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German and Ottoman. More than fifty years of history through the glasses of diplomacy, meant as the "art of peace" in the era of imperialism and triumphant colonialism at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
[Heinrich von Calice, ein görzer Diplomat zwischen Ostasien und dem Goldenen Horn]
Italy initially did not intend to open a new diplomatic mission in Amman: for this reason it proposed accrediting firstly the consul general in Jerusalem, and then the minister of Italy in Baghdad, as a representative in Transjordan. Considering the delays in negotiations with Iraq, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs then decided to appoint the consul in Jerusalem, Giacomo Silimbani, as chargé d’affaires in Amman. He started relations with the Hashemite court, obtained the restitution of the Italian assets seized during the second world war and was able to win the trust of the local authorities.
In 1948, the Palestinian question accelerated the definition of Italian-Jordanian relations. Rome, careful to maintain a balanced position in the Middle East, after recognizing de facto the State of Israel decided to open a legation in Amman, despite the small size of the country (then with only 300.000 inhabitants) and of the Italian interests. Pier Luigi La Terza, appointed Minister in Amman, presented his credentials to Abdullah on August 14, 1949. The Italian diplomat described the king with words of praise and admiration even after the his death at the hands of a Palestinian militant in 1951.
Toskana und Kaiserin in ihrer Zeit" by Renate Zedinger