Friuli Venezia Giulia History In ancient times, the Celtic peoples of Indo-European heritage inhabited the region. This was followed by the domination of Friuli by Roman Empire, which lasted until the Barbarian invasions. During the Roman rule, a perfect bond was made with the Roman government, greatly impacting the political, economic, and military life. At the end of the middle ages, the Republic of Venice and the Habsburg Empire dominated the region for centuries. The Austrian Empire and the mixture of races and cultures have made a massive impact on the attitudes and character of the people in Friuli. Up to 1947, the year of the merger of Udine province, with that part of the former region of Venezia Giulia not annexed by Yugoslavia, Friuli Venezia Giulia was known as Giulia. It underwent major changes after the transfer of Fiume and Polo provinces and wide parts of the areas of Gorizia and Trieste to Yugoslavia, following World War II.