Page "Lugano" Paragraph 12

The canton was deeply divided between " patriots ", supporting the Cisalpine Republic, and traditionalist " aristocrats ".

By 1799 riots broke out in Lugano, and the second préfet, Francesco Capra, fled the city.

Power passed to a provisional government sympathetic to the Habsburgs.

However, French occupation was restored in 1800.

Discontent continued and in early 1802 a revolt in Capriasca led to the autumn pronunciamento of Pian Povrò, which declared the independence of Lugano from the Helvetic client republic.