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Political Life Doges of Venice | Andrea Gritti
Political Life in Venice
Tintoretto, Doge Priuli and Justice For centuries, Venice had one of the most innovative and modern political systems in Europe.
Innovative and modern at a time when the most common means of gaining power was through force or heredity rather than an elective system.
Thus, while Venice's neighbours were ruled by princes, kings and sultans, Venice was governed by elected dukes, the famous Doges of the Republic.
It was this unique republican political system that allowed Venice to survive for so many centuries while maintaining its independence.
Venice, a small city measuring just seven kilometres by four, was thus able to stand up to empires in both the East and the West, which tried everything to destroy and annex it.
Political Stability and Economic Development
Venice's political system provided it with real stability while other European countries were experiencing divisions and fratricidal wars.This political originality also translated into economic wealth.
Trade requires a certain degree of stability and a secure environment in order to develop harmoniously.
A people of citizens
But to understand how such an elective political system could succeed, one must also understand the mentality of the Venetians.Since their origins, the Venetians had faced many external dangers.
However, as such a small city facing multiple and often fierce invaders, the only solution was unity among all the people, from the poorest to the richest.
It was this notion of unity, the fact that the "individual" was entirely capable of sacrificing himself for the good of the city, that founded the political system of Venice.
The notion of equality of citizens of the city for the city is indeed the basis of the Republic of Venice.
Admittedly, there was a distinction between the nobles, made up of the first great founding families of the city of Venice, and the people. Only the nobles were voters and therefore had the right to choose the Doge.
However, the laws of the Republic were as severe for a noble who had harmed a man of the people as they were between men of the people or between nobles themselves.
And here we see the importance of this legal equality between the citizens of Venice.
It was this equality that enabled the city to maintain its unity for centuries and ensured that, on every occasion, citizens were able to sacrifice themselves for the Republic when it was in danger.
This Republic knew how to protect its citizens in times of peace, so it was worth fighting for when it was threatened!
Admittedly, this democracy limited to the nobility seems very far removed from our modern democracies.
But this system, when placed in its historical context, was in fact totally... revolutionary!
Death to traitors and corruption!
Furthermore, the entire political system, with its hierarchy of primary and secondary powers, was designed to prevent corruption and favouritism.Of course, there were cases of abuse of power among some Doges in Venice, but many of them paid dearly with their lives, as the Republic was particularly harsh on those who betrayed it.
This system, which some have praised and others criticised, nevertheless managed to survive from the city's origins until it lost its independence in 1797, when Napoleon Bonaparte brutally brought it to an end, after a little over a thousand years, a longevity unique in the political history of Europe!
Political Life Doges of Venice | Andrea Gritti
History Important dates | Politics | Navy | Love | Wars | Religion | Scuole | Ghetto | Printing
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