Venice (Italy)

After the Lombards took Ravenna in 751 Venice became the last territory in Italy that remained formally under Byzantium’s control. After the rest of Italy was included into Charlemagne’s Empire it actually remained a link connecting Byzantium and the western world, which assisted in Venice’s rapid growth as a commercial city. This growth during IX century was restrained by a threat of military invasion of the Hungarians, the Slavs, the Normans or the Arabs (in 975 a Moslem Fleet reached the city of Grado). Under the rule of Doge Pietro II Orseolo (991 – 1009) Venice managed to sign treaties with all the surrounding countries, which provided the city’s independence and unhindered trade; they even enabled Venice to begin expansion of its Republic’s territory by capturing land in Dalmatia.

In 828 the relics of St. Mark stolen in Alexandria were brought to Venice and put into a cathedral that was built for that very purpose. By the end of IX century Venice acquired the same structure – with islands and canals – that it still has today. For protection from a possible invasion of the Hungarians a defense system was built with walls and a chain that blocked the entry into the Big canal.

From the moment of the foundation of the city there have never been vassal relationships between the citizens of the Republic. In this sense it was a unique state formation in Mediaeval Europe. When Doge Pietro IV Candiano tried to pursue a policy of Venice’s bigger involvement into Italy’s interior affairs, the fear of gradual introduction of vassalage ended in an upsurge in 976 that resulted in the Doge’s assassination. Around 1040 a statute was passed that forbade anybody to appoint the Doge’s co-regent or successor while the Doge was still alive.

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