The Venetian Republic. The Republic of Saint Mark: history

The Venetian Republic was formed at the end of the seventh century in Europe. The capital was the city of Venice. In the north-eastern territories of modern Italy, the republic did not stop, having formed colonies in the basins of the Marble, Aegean and Black Seas and the Adriatic. It existed until 1797.

Republican justice

In the Doge 's Palace, the ministers and the Doge's Council met in the Pianchetti, and there was a court. A secretariat, even a prison. The Venetian Republic executed all the criminals publicly, often without any explanation - any executed person was a traitor to the collective interest.

The secret council of ten dealt with the proceedings - usually on denunciation. The last time the townspeople saw a corpse between the columns on the pianchette not so long ago - in 1752, there is a sign to this day: it's not good to pass between the columns.

However, the corpses can be seen everywhere: in the very palace of the Doges, on its upper arcade, where there are columns of red color, where the quartered remains of the participants in the conspiracy of Marino Falero, and even in the cathedral at the corner of which the severed heads were exhibited. A piece of porphyry, which served as a stand for them, is still there. Hence, laws were promulgated that the Venetian Republic required to observe. Its history is long and contradictory.

A unique state

It existed from the fifth century to almost nineteenth, the republic had elected bodies of self-government and, one might say, democracy. In the distant year 466, the population of the Venetian lagoon united this ageless idea. Twelve representatives were elected to the Council of the twelve most important islands at the time, which made up Venice: Bebbe, Grado, Heraclea, Caorle, Torcello, Jesolo, Rialto, Murano, Povella, Malamokko, Big and Malaya Chioggia.

The Venetian Republic was compelled to fight hard and constantly: Odoakr, Ostrogoths, Eastern Roman Empire, repeated invasions of the Lombards ... Thus, the necessity of supreme rule was revealed. The first doge was elected for his entire life, but without transferring his post as an inheritance in 697. It was Paolo Lucio Anafesto, the head of the Venetian Republic. Although the first absolutely strictly documented election occurred only in 727, when the Doge became Orseolo.

Checks and balances

The political system of Venice had an exceptionally complex management system. First of all, it was necessary so that the usurpation of power did not happen.

• The Grand Council: the supreme body that elects the main councils, magistrates and doges. Membership is limited to heredity under the entry in the "Golden Book". The number at different times is from 400 to a thousand people.
• Doge: elected from among the procurators of San Marco - a lifetime position. Eleven stages of elections. I could not make independent decisions, the power is limited. Impossibility of traveling and owning property abroad.
• Small council: six advisers under 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. Another hundred and forty members without the right to vote. The head of the Senate is a Board of sixteen. The Council discussed and resolved all foreign and domestic policies.
• Council of forty: Supreme Court of the Republic. Was made by the Great Council.
• Council of ten: almost the Inquisition. Special surveillance for Doge. Members were elected for a year by the Great Council. Familiarity is forbidden. Completely anonymous composition.
• Other institutions of power: professional guilds, religious brotherhoods.

Any Venetian could choose and be elected, but, as always and everywhere, the Doge became a representative of one of the richest families. Such elections had not only the Venetian Republic. History repeats itself constantly.

Acquisition of power

Formally, the city of Venice was listed for the Byzantine Empire, for a short time Charlemagne annexed it to his, but in fact there was always a freeman. The situation is safe and profitable. The Venetian Republic not only successfully traded, but also fought victoriously, especially at sea. As a result, the eastern coast of the Adriatic and much of Lower Italy became arm of the Venetian doge.

The Crusades particularly enriched trade ties, and the city of Venice began to flourish, extending its influence to the Middle and Middle East. Competitors in the face of the city-republics of Pisa and Genoa could not compete with the Republic of Doges.

Restriction of rights

Nevertheless, inside the state, the democrats seriously fought against aristocrats. The desire of some to turn the republic into an hereditary monarchy was not destined to come true. In 1172, the Great Council of Elected Deputies was convened, which severely hampered the power of the Doges.

Collegial bodies changed their names and numbers: the Republic of St. Mark, as was often called the Venetian Republic in the Middle Ages, created the Council of Forty and the Council of Five Hundred, and these bodies selected the powers that belonged to the Doges, they also regulated and controlled all the actions of the Chief Governor of the state. They also made the republic oligarchical, controlling elections.

In this picture is the lion of St. Mark, the evangelist, whose name is the Council and the Council of Ten, which the Venetian Republic was rightfully proud of. The coat of arms is in front of you.

Oligarchy

The most used state program for a long time was war, and the oligarchs were an inexhaustible source of funding. The loans became compulsory and concerned the most affluent part of the population. It was impossible to refuse or ignore the decision made by the Venetian Republic. History has preserved many names of those who tried to resist, and whose end was inglorious. Nevertheless, the general people's assembly was gradually abolished and dissolved. Legislation worked only for the good of the aristocracy.

After the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders, Venice received three-eighths of the entire territory of Byzantium and the whole island of Crete. Thus, by the end of the fifteenth century, she was rich and not afraid of enemies. Among the Venetians there were more people of science and art than in any other state. Both industry and trade flourished. The people were rapidly richer, because they did not strangle it with taxes.

Changes

Portugal in 1498 opened the sea route to the East Indies, and the city of Venice lost all the benefits of eastern trade. The Ottoman Empire took Constantinople and robbed the Venetians of practically everything that belonged to them, even Albania and Negroponte, 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 and concessions did not work. Venice surrendered at the mercy of the winner in 1797. The territory of the republic was divided between Austria, France and the Italian kingdom.

Results

Fully existed for more than 1100 years, conquered the territory a thousand times larger than itself, which had the most massive naval fleet in the Mediterranean, which was at odds with the Turks and the Ottoman Empire, the Venetian Republic will remain in the memory of humanity as the first democratic state. The fact that she was subsequently unable to protect not only her conquered capital, but her own capital is also a lesson: the war with neighbors is no better than civil war.