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 Republic of Italy has not stopped, forming colonies in the basins of the Marmara, Aegean and the Black Sea and the Adriatic.It existed before 1797.
Republican Justice
In the Palace of the Doges pyantsette sat on the board of the ministers and the Doges, there was a court.the secretariat, even prison.The coffers of the Republic of Venice all the criminals in public, often without explanation - is a traitor who was executed any collective interest.
proceedings - usually denounced - engaged in a secret Council of Ten.Last time the townspeople saw the corpse between the columns on pyantsette not so long ago - in 1752, to this day there is a sign: to pass between the columns - not good.
However, the bodies may pomereschitsya everywhere: at the Doge's Palace, on top of his arcade, where the columns are red, which hung and quartered remains of the conspiracy Marino Faliero, and even in the cathedral, which was exhibited at the corner of severed heads.A piece of porphyry, which served as a support for them, is still there.Hence, too, proclaimed laws that required to comply with the Republic of Venice.The story of her long and controversial.
unique state
existed from the fifth century, almost to the nineteenth, the country had elected governments, and we can say democracy.Back in 466, the population of the Venice lagoon combine this timeless idea.Twelve representatives were elected to the Board of the twelve most important for those times islands that make up Venice: Bebb, Grado, Heraclea, Caorle, Torcello, Jesolo, Rialto, Murano, commanded, Malamocco, Big and Small Chioggia.
vynuzhdlena Venetian republic was at war, and it is difficult to constantly: Odoacer, the Ostrogoths, the Eastern Roman Empire, the repeated incursions of the Lombards ... So it became necessary reign supreme.First elected doge on his life, but without reference to his position as a legacy in 697 year.It was Paolo Lucio Anafesto - the head of the Venetian Republic.While the first is absolutely strictly documented election occurred only in 727, when the doge became Orseolo.
Checks and balances
political system of Venice had extremely complex system of governance.First of all, it was necessary to ensure that did not happen usurpation of power.
- Grand Council: the supreme body, elected by the basic tips, magistrates and the Doges.Membership is limited to inheritance by a record in the "Golden Book".The number at different times from 400 to a thousand people.
- Doge: elected from among the procurators of San Marco - office for life.Eleven stages of the elections.Make independent decisions could not power limited.The inability to travel and property ownership abroad.
- Small tip: six advisers to the doge and the three members of the Board of forty.
- Senate: one hundred and twenty members elected for one year with the right to be re-elected.More hundred and forty members without voting rights.The head of the Senate - the College of sixteen people.Council to discuss and solve all the domestic and foreign policy.
- forty Council: The Supreme Court of the Republic.It accounts for more advice.
- Tip ten: almost Inquisition.Special surveillance of the Doge.Members are elected for a year of great advice.Affinity is prohibited.Completely anonymous composition.
- other institutions: professional guilds, religious brotherhoods.
choose and be chosen could any Venetian, but, as always and everywhere, the Doge became a representative of one of the richest families.Such an election was not only the Republic of Venice.History repeats itself constantly.
Purchasing power
Officially listed as the city of Venice for the Byzantine Empire for a short time, Charlemagne annexed it to his, but in fact there has always been a wrestler.Fail-safe and profitable.Republic of Venice, not only traded very successfully, but also fought victoriously, especially to the sea.As a result, the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and a large part of the lower arm of Italy became the Venetian doge.
Crusades especially enriched trade relations, and the city of Venice began to prosper, expanding influence in 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 Doges.
Restricted Rights
Nevertheless, within the state Democrats seriously fought the aristocracy.The desire of some to turn the republic into a hereditary monarchy was not to be.In 1172 it was called the Grand Council of the elected deputies, who greatly infringed the power of the Doges.
Collegial bodies changed their names and number: the republic of St. Mark, how often was called the Republic of Venice in the Middle Ages, created the Board of forty, the Council of Five Hundred, and these bodies were selected powers belonging dozham, they also regulated and controlled allthe actions of the ruler of the state.They did the same oligarchic republic, monitoring the elections.
In this image the lion of St. Mark, the evangelist, the name given to the Cathedral and the acting Council of Ten, which is rightly proud of the Venetian Republic.Coat of arms in front of you.
oligarchy
most used government program for a long time there was a war, and the oligarchs were an inexhaustible source of funding.Loans made compulsory and concerned the most affluent segment of the population.It was impossible to refuse or ignore a ruling that made the Venetian Republic.History has preserved the names of many of those who tried to resist, and whose end turned out to be infamous.Nevertheless, the general assembly of the people was gradually abolished and disbanded.The legislation worked only for the benefit of the aristocracy.
After the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders of Venice got three-eighths of the whole territory of the Byzantine Empire and the whole island of Crete.Thus, by the end of the fifteenth century it was rich and was not afraid of the enemy.Among the Venetians were more people of art and science than in any other state.Prosperous and industry, and trade.The people rapidly grew rich because he was not strangled taxes.
changes
Portugal in 1498 opened the way to the sea to the East Indies, and the city of Venice has lost all the benefits of the eastern trade.Isperih Ottoman took Constantinople and took from the Venetians almost everything they owned, even Albania and Negroponte, and then Cyprus, and Kandy.Since 1718 the Republic of Venice has practically ceased to participate in world trade.
She was about two and a half million citizens living in Venice itself, in Dalmatia, Istria and the Ionian Islands.After the French Revolution and the independence of the latter city was lost.Bonaparte declared war on the country.No negotiations and concessions have not worked.Venice surrendered unconditionally in 1797.Its territory was divided between Austria, France and the Kingdom of Italy.
Results
full-blooded existed more than 1,100 years old, the conquered territories a thousandfold greater than itself, which had the most massive naval fleet in the Mediterranean, at enmity with the Turks and the Ottoman Empire, Republic of Venice will be remembered as the first democratic state.The fact that it subsequently failed to protect not only conquered but also its capital - the same lesson: the war with its neighbors are no better than civil.
