Despite the bloodthirsty stand of the ruling nobility on Zakynthos, the glorious Republic of San Marco had run its course. The last Venetian Governor surrendered the town and the island to the French on 14 July 1797. The local people celebrated the end of the oppression by pouring into the streets and squares, joyously singing and dancing. Their euphoric celebration reached its climax on 30 July 1797, when they publicly burnt the Golden Book in the triangular square of St Mark, together with the coats-of-arms of the nobility, hated symbols of local oppression, and planted a Tree of Freedom.
The French Consul, Charles de Guy, temporarily undertook the administration of Zakynthos, and formed a municipal council which was barred to members of the nobility. This council immediately voted the abolition of all aristocratic titles, and divided the island into communities administered by local mayors. Stripped of all direct power, the demoted nobles had only subversion to fall back on. They tried to foster anarchy by spreading the rumour that republican-minded Zakynthians were organising a reactionary stand against the French. When the nobles were threatened with expulsion from the island, they made a gift-of a large sum of money to the French military, and so managed to delay the decision for their ouster.
Under the French, Zakynthos became the administrative headquarters of the Prefecture of the Aegean, and the democratic government began the difficult task of reconstruction. An important feature of this period was the establishment of schools for children from all the social classes.