THOUVENEL, EDOUARD. - French statesman, born at Verdun on 11 Nov. 1818, died in Paris on 10 Oct. 1866.
After a rapid and brilliant diplomatic career (he was, among other positions, ambassador to Constantinople during the Crimean War), on 4 Jan. 1860 he succeeded Walewski as Foreign Minister under Napoleon III and held that portfolio for about two years. Thouvenel thus found himself directing French foreign policy in the aftermath of the Peace of Zurich (q.v.), of which he immediately understood that it would be impossible to implement the provisions regarding the establishment of an Italian confederation. He then negotiated with Cavour France’s consent to the annexation of the Duchies, the Legations, and Tuscany to the Kingdom of Sardinia in exchange for the cession of Nice and Savoy to the Empire: he achieved this through the Treaty of 12 March 1860. He also advocated direct agreements between Turin and the Holy See so that Piedmont would guarantee the integrity of the Papal States’ political borders, as he wished to put an end to the imperial armed protection of the Patrimony of St. Peter. However, his efforts in this direction came to nothing due to the opposition of the Roman government. Equally unsuccessful were his attempts to promote joint action by the cabinets of Paris and London to prevent Garibaldi from landing on the mainland after the occupation of Sicily, and he energetically protested the Sardinian invasion of the Marches and Umbria, breaking off diplomatic relations with Turin, despite the fact that the expedition had been directly authorised by the Emperor.
Thouvenel also drew up a draft Italo-French agreement on the Roman Question, along the lines of which the so-called September Convention (q.v.) was later concluded in 1864. The plan, which had not been realised in 1861 due to Cavour’s death, was revived by Thouvenel after Aspromonte; but since Napoleon III then opposed it, he resigned, followed by numerous French diplomats who shared the minister’s views.