Republic of Venice Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Most Serene Republic of Venice

Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia (Italian)
Serenìsima Repùblica Vèneta (Venetian)

697–1797

Banner of Saint Mark

Coat of arms

Motto: Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus
"Peace be to you Mark, my evangelist"

Diachronic map of the Republic and the Venetian Empire.

Capital

Eraclea
(697–742)
Malamocco
(742–810)
Venice
(810–1797)

Common languages

Government

Parliamentary oligarchic merchant republic with elective monarchistic features

Doge

• 697–717 (first)

Paolo Lucio Anafesto^a

• 1789–1797 (last)

Ludovico Manin

Legislature

Great Council

• Upper Chamber

Senate

• Lower Chamber

Council of Ten

Historical era

Middle Ages – Early modern period

• Established¹

697

• Golden Bull of Alexios I

1082

• Treaty of Venice

1177

• Sack of Constantinople

1204

• Battle of Motta

1412

• Battle of Lepanto

1571

• Treaty of Passarowitz

1718

• Treaty of Campo Formio

1797

Currency

Venetian ducat
Venetian lira

Preceded by

Succeeded by

Byzantine Empire

Venetian Province
Cisalpine Republic
French departments of Greece

Today part of

Italy
Slovenia
Croatia
Montenegro
Albania
Greece
Cyprus
Turkey
Ukraine

a. ^ Paolo Lucio Anafesto is traditionally the first Doge of Venice, but John Julius Norwich suggests that this may be a mistake for Paul, Exarch of Ravenna, and that the traditional second doge Marcello Tegalliano may have been the similarly named magister militum to Paul. Their existence as doges is uncorroborated by any source before the 11th century, but as Norwich suggests, is probably not entirely legendary. Traditionally, the establishment of the Republic is, thus, dated to 697 AD.

The Republic of Venice in the XVI century (in light blue)

The Most Serene Republic of Venice (Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia, Venetian: Republica de Venesia), was an Italian state where current Venice is now.

It existed for one thousand one hundred years, from the late 7th century until the late 18th century (1797, when it was conquered by Napoleon).

It was an important economic and trading power which was ruled by a leader called a doge.

Images for kids

The Doge of Venice, illustrated in the manuscript Théâtre de tous les peuples et nations de la terre avec leurs habits et ornemens divers, tant anciens que modernes, diligemment depeints au naturel. Painted by Lucas d'Heere in the 2nd half of the 16th century. Preserved by the Ghent University Library.
The Venetia c 600 AD
The Venetia c 840 AD
Map of the Venetian Republic, circa 1000
The sack of Constantinople in 1204 on a mosaic in the San Giovanni Evangelista church in Ravenna, 1213
Leonardo Loredan, Doge of Venice during the War of the League of Cambrai.
The Venetian fort of Palamidi in Nafplion, Greece, one of many forts that secured Venetian trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Republic of Venice around 1700
Drawing of the Doge's Palace, late 14th century
Siege of Tyre (1124) in the Holy Land
Siege of Constantinople (1203)
Voyage of Marco Polo into the Far East during the Pax Mongolica
The Piraeus Lion in Venice, in front of the Venetian Arsenal
Relief of the Venetian Lion on the Landward Gate in Zara (Zadar), capital of the Venetian Dalmatia
Relief of the Venetian Lion in Parenzo (Poreč)
Vicenza, Piazza dei Signori.
Udine, Piazza Libertà.
Piazza delle Erbe, Verona
Relief of the Venetian Lion in Cattaro (Kotor)
Relief of the Venetian Lion in Candia (Heraklion)
Relief of the Venetian Lion in Frangokastello, Crete
Venetian blazon with the Lion of Saint Mark, as frequently found on the New Fortress walls, Corfu.

Republic of Venice facts for kids

Images for kids

See also