The Venetian Republic was formed at the end of the seventh century in Europe. The capital was the city of Venice. In the northeastern territories of modern Italy, the republic did not stop, forming colonies in the basins of the Marmara, Aegean and Black Seas and the Adriatic. Existed until 1797.
Republican Justice
In the Doge's Palace on the Piazetta, ministers and the Doge's Council met, there was also a court. secretariat, even prison. The Republic of Venice executed all criminals publicly, often without any explanation - any executed was a traitor to the collective interest.
Proceedings - usually on denunciation - were handled by the secret Council of Ten. The last time the townspeople saw a corpse between the columns on the piazetta was not so long ago - in 1752, to this day there is a sign: to pass between the columns is not good.
However, corpses can be seen everywhere: in the Doge's Palace itself, on its upper arcade, where there are red columns, where the quartered remains of Marino Faliero's conspirators hung, and even in the cathedral, on the corner of whichsevered heads were exposed. A piece of porphyry that served as a stand for them is still there. From here, the laws that the Venetian Republic demanded to be observed were proclaimed. Its history is long and controversial.
Unique State
Existing from the fifth century almost to the nineteenth, the republic had elected self-government bodies and, one might say, democracy. Back in 466, the population of the Venetian lagoon was united by this ageless idea. Twelve representatives were elected to the Council of the twelve most important islands at that time that made up Venice: Bebbe, Grado, Heraclea, Caorle, Torcello, Jesolo, Ri alto, Murano, Poveglia, Malamocco, Chioggia Major and Minor.
The Venetian Republic was forced to fight hard and constantly: Odoacer, the Ostrogoths, the Eastern Roman Empire, the repeated invasions of the Lombards … Thus, the need for supreme rule was revealed. The first doge was elected for his whole life, but without the inheritance of his post in 697. It was Paolo Lucio Anafesto - the head of the Republic of Venice. Although the first absolutely strictly documented election took place only in 727, when Orseolo became Doge.
Checks and balances
The political system of Venice had an exceptionally complex system of government. First of all, it was necessary to prevent the usurpation of power.
- Great Council: the supreme body that elects the main councils, magistrates and doges. Membership limitedheredity under the entry in the "Golden Book". Number at different times from 400 to a thousand people.
- Doge: elected from among the procurators of San Marco - a position for life. Eleven stages of elections. He could not make independent decisions, his power was limited. Impossibility to travel and own property abroad.
- Small council: six advisers to the Doge and three members of the Council of Forty.
- Senate: one hundred and twenty members, elected for a year with the right to be re-elected. One hundred and forty more non-voting members. The head of the Senate is a Board of sixteen people. The Council discussed and decided all foreign and domestic policy.
- Council of Forty: Supreme Court of the Republic. Compiled by the Grand Council.
- Council of ten: practically an inquisition. Special surveillance of the doge. Members were elected for a year by the Grand Council. Relationship is prohibited. Completely anonymous cast.
- Other institutions of power: professional guilds, religious brotherhoods.
Any Venetian could choose and become elected, but, as always and everywhere, a representative of one of the richest families became a Doge. Such elections were not only the Venetian Republic. History repeats itself all the time.
Acquiring Power
Formally, the city of Venice was listed under the Byzantine Empire, for a short time Charlemagne annexed it to his own, but in fact there was always freemen. The position is safe and advantageous. The Republic of Venice not only traded very successfully, but also fought victoriously,especially at sea. As a result, the eastern coast of the Adriatic and most of Lower Italy fell into the hands of the Doge of Venice.
The Crusades especially enriched trade relations, and the city of Venice began to flourish, spreading influence to the Middle and Near East. Competitors in the face of the city-republics of Pisa and Genoa could not compete with the Republic of the Doge.
Restriction of rights
Nevertheless, within the state, the Democrats seriously fought against the aristocrats. The desire of some to turn the republic into a hereditary monarchy was not destined to come true. In 1172, a Great Council of Elected Deputies was convened, which greatly infringed on the power of the Doge.
Collegial bodies changed their names and numbers: the Republic of St. Mark, as the Venetian Republic was often called in the Middle Ages, created either the Council of Forty or the Council of Five Hundred, and these bodies took away the powers that belonged to the doges, they also regulated, and controlled all the actions of the chief administrator of the state. They also made the republic oligarchic by controlling the elections.
In this picture, the lion of St. Mark, the evangelist, after whom the Cathedral is named and the Council of Ten, which the Republic of Venice was rightfully proud of. The coat of arms is in front of you.
Oligarchy
The most used state program for a long time was the war, and the oligarchs were an inexhaustible source of funding. Loans became compulsory and concerned the we althiest part of the population. Couldn't be denied or ignoreddecree issued by the Venetian Republic. History has preserved many names of those who tried to resist, and whose end was inglorious. Nevertheless, the general popular assembly was gradually abolished and dissolved. Legislation worked only for the benefit of the aristocracy.
After the Crusaders conquered Constantinople, Venice got three-eighths of the entire territory of Byzantium and the entire island of Crete. Thus, by the end of the fifteenth century, she was rich and not afraid of enemies. There were more men of science and art among the Venetians than in any other state. Both industry and trade flourished. The people grew rich rapidly because they were not choked with taxes.
Change
Portugal in 1498 opened a sea route to the East Indies, and the city of Venice lost all the benefits of eastern trade. The Ottoman Empire took Constantinople and took away from the Venetians almost everything that belonged to them, even Albania and Negropont, and then Cyprus and Candia. Since 1718, the Venetian Republic has practically ceased to participate in world trade.
She had about two and a half million subjects living in Venice itself, in Dalmatia, Istria and the Ionian Islands. And after the French Revolution, the last independence of the city was lost. Bonaparte declared war on the republic. No negotiations or concessions worked. Venice surrendered to the mercy of the victor in 1797. The territory of the republic was divided between Austria, France and the Italian kingdom.
Results
Full-blooded for more than 1100 years, having conquered territories a thousand times larger than itself, having the most massive navy in the Mediterranean, at enmity with the Turks and the Ottoman Empire, the Venetian Republic will remain in the memory of mankind as the first democratic state. The fact that she later failed to defend not only what she conquered, but also her capital is also a lesson: a war with neighbors is no better than a civil one.
