The congress was unofficially organized by Napoleon, whose French army had swept through northern Italy earlier in the year, and who needed to settle the situation in Italy and gather new troops for an offensive against Austria.
Kongressi organiseeris mitteametlikult Napoleon, kelle Prantsuse armee oli varem sel aastal üle Põhja-Itaalia pühkinud, ja vajas Itaalia olukorra klaarimist ja uute vägede kogumist pealetungiks Austria vastu.