History of Venice Before Christ

From 1000 BC to 700 BC

This period marks the beginning of the Venetian civilisation, whose main geographical centre was located in Este.

382 BC

First military incursions: the Gauls, who were occupying Rome, were forced to abandon the area because at the same time the Veneti invaded Gaul.

302 BC

The Spartans, led by Cleonymus of Sparta, invaded the Venetian lagoon and were defeated, unable to effectively pursue the Venetian people of the lagoon.

Worse still, the inhabitants of the lagoon, knowing its traps, took advantage of the situation to decimate the Spartan fleet.

218 to 203 BC

The Veneti allied themselves with the Romans to counter Hannibal in the famous Punic Wars.

181 BC

This is an important date, as it was in this year that the city of Aquileia was founded.

42 BC

The Roman emperor Octavian decided that Venetia would become part of the Roman Empire. He also defined the geographical boundaries of Venetia at that time.

History of Venice after Christ:

402

Invasion of the Goths, led by their king Alaric. He is defeated near Verona.

25 March 421

This is said to be the date of the founding of Venice, but according to historians, such a precise date belongs to the realm of legend.

The church of San Giacometto (or San Giacomo) in Rialto is said to have been founded in 421, on the same date, 25 March. It is one of the oldest churches in Venice.

Tradition has it that it is the oldest church in Venice, which obviously helps to perpetuate the legend of 25 March 421.

In fact, the first churches in Venice were San Giovanni and San Matteo, not San Giacometto.

From 400 to 450

This was a very troubled period during which the inhabitants of Veneto had to face invasions by the Huns, led by the terrible Attila, but also by the Goths of King Alaric.

Some of the inhabitants of the mainland took refuge in the marshes and islands of the Venetian lagoon, marking the beginning of the actual settlement of the Venetian lagoon.

486

After the Huns and the Goths, it was now the Ostrogoths who invaded Italy, led by Theodoric.

540

A particularly important date in the history of Venice, Ravenna was conquered by the Byzantines under the command of General Belisarius. At the same time, the entire Italian peninsula was invaded by Belisarius.

This incursion by Byzantium into Venetia had enormous consequences for the future of Venice, as it was thanks to this that Venice was subsequently able to obtain a status different from that of the Roman Empire and thus become independent from both empires and build its own.

551

This year also marked the beginning of the Venetian people's existence in the eyes of Byzantium. General Narses launched a major attack on Italy and asked for support from the Venetians living in the lagoon in 553

637 to 639

Foundation of Cittanova (later Heraclea) in the Venetian lagoon. It was the first real and important city in the lagoon.

639-640

Foundation of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello. Almost simultaneously with the foundation of Cittanova, it is clear that it was during this period that Venetian civilisation truly took shape.
In 639, the seat of the Byzantine government was transferred from the city of Oderzo to Eraclea.

697

Election of the man considered to be the first Venetian Doge, Duke Paulicius whose name was Paoluccio Anafesto.

However, both his role and his powers were still very different from those who would later hold the office of Doge of Venice. These first doges were appointed directly by Byzantium, and it was not yet a matter of elective democracy.

717

Appointment of the second Duke or Doge, Marcello Tegalliano of Heraclea.

726

Appointment of Doge Orso Ipato, also known as Ursus, who reigned from 726 to 737.

737

Another grim first in the history of Venice: the assassination of Duke Orso Ipato, which was followed by the physical elimination of many other doges, who were assassinated or even blinded!

737 to 742

This was the reign of the ‘Maestro dei Militi’, or Masters of Soldiers. In short, it was a military interregnum. But it was also a troubled time when power and military strength took on their full value in the face of external threats, which partly explains why the appointment of a new Duke was abandoned.

740

Liutprand, King of the Lombards, took Ravenna and threatened the Veneti on the coast.

From 740 to 741

The Byzantines, allied with the Veneti, recaptured Ravenna.

742

Election of a new Doge: Deusdedit, whose real name was Teodato Ipato. He was the son of Doge Orso Ipato (Ursus), who had been assassinated in 737.

The ducal seat is transferred from Eraclea to Malamocco (on the present-day island of Lido).

755

Galla Gaulo becomes the new Doge. He does not remain in office for long and is deposed and blinded in 756.

756

Domenico Monegario is appointed Doge in place of Galla Gaulo.

764

Doge Domenico Monegario is in turn deposed and replaced by Maurizio Galbaio.

The election of Maurizio Galbaio, Duke Maurice, was significant because he was no longer appointed solely by Byzantium, but elected by an assembly of free men from the province.

774

The Franks, led by the future Charlemagne, then King Charles, defeat the Lombards and bring about the fall of the Lombard dynasty.

Ravenna, Veneto and Istria are given by the Franks to Pope Adrian.

775