Friuli (Ger. Friaul; so named from the ancient town of Forum Julii, now Cividale del Friuli), an old province of N. Italy, formerly embracing some adjoining districts and divided between Austria and the republic of Venice, and afterward, under the dominion of Austria, forming the circle of Gorz, part of Trieste, and the delegation of Friuli or Udine in Venetia. It was one of the most important duchies of the Lombard kingdom, and after the overthrow of that monarchy by Charlemagne, and even up to the 15th century, when it was conquered by Venice and its territories were dismembered, it retained a considerable degree of independence. The main or Venetian portion was ceded to Austria in 1797, was annexed to the kingdom of Italy in 1806, recovered by Austria in 1814, and in 1866 united to the kingdom of Italy, and is now called the province of Udine. (See Udine.) The Friulians are a tribe kindred to the Italians, but their language is largely mixed with Celtic elements.