By 1797, it was obvious to the Venetians that Napoleon was not going to allow them to remain independent. Napoleon's massive campaigns across Europe had already taken many countries and cities which were strong and had well-equipped armies.
Venice was weak and decadent. A drunken indolent aristocracy ruled the city inefficiently, living in the memory of a golden age which had long passed Venice by. They did not want or even know how to fight any more. If Napoleon decided to attack, they had no plans ready for their defence. Napoleon however had plans for Venice. He made a secret agreement with Austrians that he would take Venice and hand it over to them.
In April 1797, a French ship sailed into the lagoon through the Porto di Lido without Venetian permission, the first to do so for 500 years. The Venetians killed the ship's captain and looted its contents. Napoleon then declared war on Venice much to the horror of the Venetians who begged to be allowed to negotiate a peace. Napoleon would have none of it, and 3,000 French soldiers rowed into the city in Venetian boats with the Venetians offering no resistance at all. Napoleon's soldiers then looted Venice. Many of her famous pictures, gems and other priceless treasures were taken to Paris.
