HIST454A
10 December 2014
Final Essay
The Doge (Dux) Throughout this semester we have looked at many aspects of what made Venice so prominent throughout its one thousand years of prosperity until Napoleon invaded. From courtesans to the arts, I found the doge to be the most important factors in making Venice’s Venezianta. The doge’s were considered to be the popes of Venice who were the head figures, which made Venice so politically strong. They were the reason that Venice was so well kept without havoc for over a thousand years, until Napoleon destroyed the system in 1797.
I found the doge to be intriguing because they, along with the senate, knew how to keep Venice running as a functional state. There were doges however who …show more content…
I decided to take a closer look and focus on some of the main doges that ruled. I not only learned about who the four most important doges were, but in general what the doge was responsible to do with the power he had. While taking a closer look at the doge I had a chance to understand how they were elected, the ceremonies that they held for the people of Venice, and also how far they could test their powers before they would be removed from office. We discussed the basics of the doge in class, but I always felt there was something more to learn. Through doing this assignment it really helped me understand the doge that Venice elected to control from the age of approximately seventy-two, until their …show more content…
Many of the other countries throughout Europe had problems with rulers who were all bloodline and also had complete control of their state, for example Napoleon. Doges were actually elected by the Great Council and the nobles instead of continuing a bloodline type system. I believe this made Venice so strong. They had a choice to elect the right doge and force him from office if he got to out of control. It was also important, I believe, to understand the influence that the doge had when it came to celebrations and traditions. The doge also had a major influence when it came to military issues; they acted as commander and chief and even went to war with their soldiers.
Works Cited
Brown, Patricia Fortini. Art and Life in Renaissance Venice. New York: Prentice Hall, 1997. Print.
"Doge - From the Latin Dux." About. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Ludovico Manin (doge of Venice)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
"Enrico Dandolo - Doge of Venice." About. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
Ferraro, Joanne Marie. Venice: History of the Floating City. New York: Cambridge UP, 2012. Print.
"Marin Falier (doge of Venice)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
"So What Is a "Doge" Anyway?" What Is a Doge? N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
"Venice - Carnival, Mary's Feast