Early history After the dissolution of the
Western Roman Empire, the area of the province of Trieste was ruled by the Ostrogoths, Eastern Romans (Byzantines), Lombards and by the
Franks. With the advent of the
Habsburgs (13th century) the territory was divided between the lords of
Duino, Trieste,
San Dorligo della Valle and
Muggia. During the reign of
Maria Theresa of Austria and, subsequently,
Joseph II, the maritime trades were increased with institution of the free port. In 1809, the area was ceded to France after the defeat of Austria in that year. After the French definitive defeat, the communes of
Duino,
Aurisina,
Sgonico and
Monrupino, which used to be part of
Carniola, were annexed to that of
Gorizia and Gradisca, while
Trieste became a direct city of the
Austrian Empire.
San Dorligo della Valle and
Muggia became part of
Istria.
World War I left the territory of the province almost untouched, although
fierce battles were fought just on its north-westernmost edges. The whole area was occupied by Italy in November 1918, in the aftermath of
Austria's defeat in World War I. It was officially annexed to Italy with the
treaty of Rapallo of 1920, which also assigned all of the former
Austrian Littoral to
Italy.
Establishment The Province of Trieste was first established in 1920. It comprised the territory of the province at the time of its abolition, as well as significant portions of the
Karst Plateau and the region of
Inner Carniola in present-day
Slovenia. Between 1923 and 1943, the province of Trieste included also the communes of
Monfalcone,
Staranzano,
Ronchi dei Legionari,
San Canzian d'Isonzo,
Turriaco,
San Pier d'Isonzo,
Fogliano Redipuglia and
Grado (today in
province of Gorizia), the current Slovenian municipalities of
Sežana (including former communes of
Dutovlje,
Tomaj and
Lokev),
Divača (including former communes of
Senožeče and
Vremski Britof),
Postojna (shortly Postumia before 1945; including former communes of
Bukovje,
Hrenovice and
Slavina) and
Pivka (including former communes of
Šmihel and
Košana), as well as some settlements in the present-day Slovenian municipality of
Koper, namely
Hrvatini,
Elerji,
Spodnje Škofije,
Plavje and
Osp.
After World War II After the end of
World War II, the
Free Territory of Trieste was established as a
free state on 15 September 1947. On 26 October 1954, Italy and
Yugoslavia came to an understanding whereby the territory
de facto was divided between the two states.
Zone A of the free state became the new Province of Trieste and
Zone B was to be administered by Yugoslavia. The Province of Trieste formally became a part of Italy on 11 October 1977, by the
Treaty of Osimo. The province was abolished on 30 September 2017. Two years later, it was restored in the form of a regional decentralization entity. ==Municipalities==