Identity Documents of Italians in Trieste (1915)
The State Archive of Trieste has made available online a collection of digital images titled “Regnicoli in fuga,” corresponding to identity documents of citizens of the Kingdom of Italy renewed at the Italian Consulate in Trieste in 1915, when Trieste was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Brief History of Trieste
In antiquity, both Trieste and Venice, situated in the Adriatic region, had a complex relationship, at times as competitors and at others as allies or commercial partners.
Due to the aggressions of the Republic of Venice in 1382, Trieste sought protection from Austria. In 1719, the city became a free port and experienced significant development with investments from the Austrian Empire. In 1867, it became the capital of the Adriatic Littoral region within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In the 20th century, Trieste developed as a commercial and industrial center, becoming the fifth-largest city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1910. Despite being a key port, Trieste maintained strong cultural ties with Italy.
On May 24, 1915, after a year of neutrality, Italy entered World War I alongside the Entente. After World War I, Trieste became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1919.
Italy’s Entry into World War I and Ethnic Conflicts in Trieste
Following Italy’s entry into the war, tensions arose between the Italian population and non-Italian ethnic groups in the region. The city experienced riots and ethnic tensions, with some Triestines considered sympathizers of Italy and “regnìcoli,” subjects of the Kingdom of Italy residing in the city, being targeted (persecution, arson of their properties) by opposing ethnic groups.
The lives of Italian immigrants in Austrian territory were suddenly and dramatically disrupted. After many years of work and integration into the host city, Italians from the Kingdom were forced to return to their country to avoid imprisonment or conscription by Austrian authorities. As early as March and April 1915, a long line of “regnìcoli” waited outside the office of the General Consulate of the Kingdom of Italy in Trieste for passport certification.
Digitized Images of “Identity Documents” of Italians in Trieste
The State Archive of Trieste has made available online the “Carte d’identità provvisorie” = Provisional Identity Cards of the Italian “regnìcoli” from Trieste preserved in the archival collection of the General Consulate of Italy in Trieste. This constitutes an extraordinary source documenting, through images attached to the documents, a particular moment in daily and social life during World War I.
The collection of images is titled “Regnicoli in fuga.” It is important to note that these are individuals born in the Kingdom of Italy (e.g., Udine, Pordenone, Pesaro, Benevento, Bologna) who were residing in Trieste in 1915.
Below is a table of digitized records containing surnames, names, and links to access the image of the “carta d’identità” and the data of each individual.