List of Doges of Venice explained

Post:Doge
Body:Venice
Insignia:Coat of Arms of the Republic of Venice.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Insigniacaption:Coat of arms
Style:His Serenity
Residence:Palazzo Ducale
Appointer:Serenissima Signoria
Formation:697
First:Paolo L. Anafesto
Last:Ludovico Manin
Abolished:12 May 1797

The following is a list of all 120 of the Doges of Venice ordered by the dates of their reigns.

For more than 1,000 years, the chief magistrate and leader of the city of Venice and later of the Most Serene Republic of Venice was styled the Doge, a rare but not unique Italian title derived from the Latin Dux. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. The Venetian combination of elaborate monarchic pomp and a republican (though "aristocratic") constitution with intricate checks and balances makes "La serenissima" (Venice) a textbook example of a crowned republic.

Despite the great power given to them, the Venetian Doges were restricted by law (unlike the Doges of the Republic of Genoa) to spend the rest of their lives inside the Doge's Palace complex and St Mark's Basilica, occasionally leaving for diplomatic reasons.

Byzantine period

PortraitName
ReignedNoteSources
1Paolo Lucio Anafesto697–717Paolo Lucio Anafesto is traditionally described as 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.
2Marcello Tegalliano
(died 726)
717–726
3Orso Ipato
(died 737)
726–737Ipato is described as the first historical Doge of Venice.Nominated by the popular assembly opposed to the iconoclast policies of the Byzantine Emperor; murdered by rebels during a civil conflict

Magister militum per Venetiae

PortraitName
ReignedNoteSources
1Domenico Leoni738Leoni was the first Byzantine magister militum per Venetiae.
2Felice Cornicola739
3Teodato Ipato739
4Jovian Ceparius741
5John Fabriacus742

Ducal period

PortraitName
ReignedNoteSources
4Teodato Ipato742–755The first doge since its restoration.Deposed, blinded, and exiled.
5Galla Gaulo755–756Deposed, blinded, and exiled.
6Domenico Monegario
(died 764)
756–764Deposed, blinded, and exiled.
7Maurizio Galbaio
(died 787)
764–787
8Giovanni Galbaio
(Unknown)
787–804Fled to Mantua in 803 with family, where they all probably died
9Obelerio degli Antenori
(Unknown)
804–811Exiled, attempted to return to power, killed and head displayed in the market.
10Agnello Participazio
(died 827)
811–827
11Giustiniano Participazio
(died 829)
827–829
12Giovanni I Participazio
(died 837)
829–836Arrested and tonsured (head shaved like a monk).
13Pietro Tradonico
(– 13 September 864)
836–864Assassinated, although in this case his successor arrested and executed the assassins
14Orso I Participazio
(died 881)
864–881
15Giovanni II Participazio
(died 887)
881–887Resigned due to poor health
16Pietro I Candiano
(died 887)
887–887Killed in open battle while invading the Narentines.
17Pietro Tribuno
(died 912)
887–912
18Orso II Participazio
(died 932)
912–932
19Pietro II Candiano
(–939)
932–939
20Pietro Participazio
(died 942)
939–942
21Pietro III Candiano
(died 959)
942–959
22Pietro IV Candiano
(928–976)
959–976People of Venice locked him in the palace with his son while it burnt.
23Pietro I Orseolo
(928–987)
976–978Resigned to become a Camaldolese hermit in the Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa in the Pyrenees.
24Vitale Candiano
(died 979)
978–979Abdicated, for health reasons
25Tribuno Memmo
(died 991)
979–991
26Pietro II Orseolo
(961−1009)
991–1009
27Otto Orseolo
(−1032)
1008–1026Arrested, beard shaved, and banished to Constantinople for nepotism.
28Pietro Barbolano
(died 1032)
1026–1032Abdicated under heavy pressure to reinstate Otto Orseolo.
29Domenico Flabanico
(died 1043)
1032–1043
30Domenico I Contarini
(died 1071)
1043–1071
31Domenico Selvo
(died 1087)
1071–1084Deposed peacefully to a monastery because of naval defeat, died three years later.
32Vitale Faliero
(died 1095)
1084–1095
33Vitale I Michiel
(died 1102)
1095–1102
34Ordelafo Faliero
(died 1117)
1102–1117
35Domenico Michiel
(died 1130)
1117–1130
36Pietro Polani
(died 1148)
1130–1148

Republican period

PortraitName
ReignedNoteSources
37Domenico Morosini
(died February 1156)
1148–1156
38Vitale II Michiel
(died 1172)
1156–1172Murdered
39Sebastiano Ziani
(1178)
1172–1178Resigned to a monastery, died three days later
40Orio Mastropiero
(died 13 June 1192)
1178–1192
41Enrico Dandolo
(1107 – May/June 1205)
21 June 1192 – June 1205
42Pietro Ziani
(died 13 March 1230)
1205–1229Resigned in February 1229
43Jacopo Tiepolo
(died 19 July 1249)
1229–1249
44Marino Morosini
(1181– January 1, 1253)
1249–1253
45Reniero Zeno
(died 7 July 1268)
1 January 1253 – 7 July 1268
46Lorenzo Tiepolo
(died 15 August 1275)
1268–1275
47Jacopo Contarini
(1194–1280)
1275–1280
48Giovanni Dandolo
(died 2 November 1289)
31 March 1280 – 2 November 1289
49Pietro Gradenigo
(– 14 August 1311)
1289–1311
50Marino Zorzi
(– 3 July 1312)
1311–1312after his death, in his memory the children of the brothers took the surname Zazzera or Zazzara and also changed the family crest[1] [2]
51Giovanni Soranzo
(1240 – 31 December 1328)
1312–1328
52Francesco Dandolo
(died 1339)
1329–1339
53Bartolomeo Gradenigo
(1263 – 28 December 1342)
7 November 1339 – 28 December 1342
54Andrea Dandolo
(1306 – 7 September 1354)
1343 – 7 September 1354
55Marino Faliero
(1274 – 17 April 1355)
11 September 1354 – 15 April 1355Convicted of treason, executed and condemned to damnatio memoriae. Age c.80/81
56Giovanni Gradenigo
(– 8 August 1356)
21 April 1355 – 8 August 1356Age c.75/76
57Giovanni Dolfin
(– 12 July 1361)
August 13, 1356 – 12 July 1361Age c. 53/58
58Lorenzo Celsi
(– 18 July 1365)
16 July 1361 – 18 July 1365Age c. 51/55
59Marco Cornaro
(– 13 January 1368)
Late July/Early August 1365 – 13 January 1368Age c. 79/82
60Andrea Contarini
(– 5 June 1382)
1367 – 5 June 1382Age c. 67/82
61Michele Morosini
(1308 – 16 October 1382)
10 June 1382 – 16 October 1382Age c. 74/74
62Antonio Venier
(– 23 November 1400)
Late October 1382 – 23 November 1400Age c. 52/70
63Michele Steno
(1331 – 26 December 1413)
1 December 1400 – 26 December 1413Age c. 69/82
64Tommaso Mocenigo
(1343– 4 April 1423)
Early January 1414 – 4 April 1423Age c. 71/80
65Francesco Foscari
(19 June 1373 – 1 November 1457)
15 April 1423 – 22 October 1457His reign was the longest of all Doges in Venetian history.Was forced to abdicate by the Council of Ten. Age 49/84
66Pasquale Malipiero
(1392 – 5 May 1462)
30 October 1457 – 5 May 1462Age c. 65/70
67Cristoforo Moro
(1390 – 10 November 1471)
Mid to Late May 1462 – 10 November 1471Age c. 72/81
68Nicolò Tron
(– 28 July 1473)
Late November 1471 – 28 July 1473Age c. 72/74
69Nicolò Marcello
(– 1 December 1474)
13 August 1473 – 1 December 1474Age c. 74/75
70Pietro Mocenigo
(3 January 1406– 23 February 1476)
14 December 1474 – 23 February 1476Age 68/70
71Andrea Vendramin
(1393 – 5 May 1478)
Early to Mid March 1476 – 5 May 1478Age c. 83/85
72Giovanni Mocenigo
(1409 – 4 November 1485)
Mid to Late May 1478 – 4 November 1485Age c. 69/76
73Marco Barbarigo
(– 14 August 1486)
Mid to Late November 1485 – 14 August 1486Age c. 72/73
74Agostino Barbarigo
(3 June 1419 – 20 September 1501)
Late August/Early September 1486 – 20 September 1501Age 67/82
75Leonardo Loredan
(16 November 1436 – 22 June 1521)
13 October 1501 – 22 June 1521Age 64/84
76Antonio Grimani
(28 December 1434 – 7 May 1523)
Early July 1521 – 7 May 1523Age 86/88
77Andrea Gritti
(17 April 1455 – 28 December 1538)
20 May 1523 – 28 December 1538Age 68/83
78Pietro Lando
(1462 - 9 November 1545)
Late December 1538/Early January 1539 – 9 November 1545Age c. 76/83
79Francesco Donato
(c. 1468–1553)
Late November 1545 – 23 May 1553Age c. 77/85
80Marcantonio Trivisan
(c. 1475 – 31 May 1554)
Early June 1553 – 31 May 1554Age c. 78/79
81Francesco Venier
(29 May 1489 - 2 June 1556)
11 June 1554 – 2 June 1556Age 65/67
82Lorenzo Priuli
(1489 – 17 August 1559)
Mid to Late June 1556 – 17 August 1559Age c. 67/70
83Girolamo Priuli
(1486 – 4 November 1567)
1 September 1559 – 4 November 1567Age c. 73/81
84Pietro Loredan
(1481 – 3 May 1570)
29 November 1567 – 3 May 1570Age c. 86/89
85Alvise I Mocenigo
(26 October 1507 – 4 June 1577)
Mid to Late May 1570 – 4 June 1577Age 62/69
86Sebastiano Venier
(– 3 March 1578)
11 June 1577 - 3 March 1578Age c. 81/82
87Nicolò da Ponte
(15 January 1491 – 30 July 1585)
3 March 1578 – 30 July 1585
  • There are references to a long, drawn out election process requiring 44 votes, but the appointment date matches the date of death of the previous Doge who held a Life term and served until death. This is unusual as most election appointments are between 1 and 3 weeks following the passing of the previous Doge (averaging around 2 weeks). Age 87/94
88Pasquale Cicogna
(27 May 1509 - 2 April 1595)
Early to Mid August 1585 – 2 April 1595Age 76/85
89Marino Grimani
(1 July 1532 – 25 December 1605)
26 April 1595 – 25 December 1605Age 62/73
90Leonardo Donato
(12 February 1536 – 16 July 1612)
10 January 1606 – 16 July 1612Age 69/76
91Marcantonio Memmo
(11 November 1536 – 31 October 1615)
24 July 1612 – 31 October 1615Age 75/78
92Giovanni Bembo
(21 August 1543 – 16 March 1618)
2 December 1615 – 16 March 1618Age 72/74
93Nicolò Donato
(28 January 1539 – 8 May 1618)
5 April 1618 – 8 May 1618Age 79/79
94Antonio Priuli
(10 May 1548 – 12 August 1623)
17 May 1618 – 12 August 1623Age 70/75
95Francesco Contarini
(28 November 1556 – 6 December 1624)
8 September 1623 – 6 December 1624Age 66/68
96Giovanni I Cornaro
(11 November 1551 – 23 December 1629)
24 January 1625 – 23 December 1629Age 73/78
97Nicolò Contarini
(26 September 1553 – 2 April 1631)
18 January 1630 – 2 April 1631Age 76/77
98Francesco Erizzo
(18 February 1566 – Venice, 3 January 1646)
10 April 1631 – 3 January 1646Age 65/79
99Francesco Molin
(21 April 1575 – 27 February 1655)
20 January 1646 – 27 February 1655Age 70/79
100Carlo Contarini
(5 July 1580 – 1 May 1656)
27 March 1655 – 1 May 1656Age 74/75
101Francesco Cornaro
(6 March 1585 – 5 June 1656)
17 May 1656 – 5 June 1656Age 71/71
102Bertuccio Valier
(1 July 1596 – 29 March 1658)
15 June 1656–29 March 1658Age 59/61
103Giovanni Pesaro
(1 September 1589 – 30 September 1659)
8 April 1658–30 September 1659Age 68/70
104Domenico II Contarini
(28 January 1585 – 26 January 1675)
16 October 1659–26 January 1675Age 74/89
105Nicolò Sagredo
(8 December 1606 – 14 August 1676)
6 February 1675–14 August 1676Age 68/69
106Alvise Contarini
(24 October 1601 – 15 January 1684)
26 August 1676 – 15 January 1684Age 74/82
107Marcantonio Giustinian
(2 March 1619 – 23 March 1688)
26 January 1684–23 March 1688Age 64/69
108Francesco Morosini
(26 February 1619 – 16 January 1694)
3 April 1688–16 January 1694Age 69/74
109Silvestro Valier
(28 March 1630 – 7 July 1700)
25 February 1694–7 July 1700Age 63/70
110Alvise II Mocenigo
(3 January 1628 – 6 May 1709)
17 July 1700–6 May 1709Age 72/81
111Giovanni II Cornaro
(4 August 1647 – 12 August 1722)
22 May 1709–12 August 1722Age 61/75
112Sebastiano Mocenigo
(29 August 1662–21 May 1732)
24 August 1722 – 21 May 1732Age 59/69
113Carlo Ruzzini
(11 November 1653 – 5 January 1735)
6 June 1732 – 5 January 1735Age 78/81
114Alvise Pisani
(1 January 1664 – 17 June 1741)
17 January 1735 – 17 June 1741Age 71/77
115Pietro Grimani
(5 October 1677 – 7 March 1752)
30 June 1741 – 7 March 1752Age 63/74
116Francesco Loredan
(9 February 1685 – 19 May 1762)
18 March 1752 – 19 May 1762Age 67/77
117Marco Foscarini
(4 February 1696 – 31 March 1763)
31 May 1762–31 March 1763Age 66/67
118Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
(19 May 1701 – 31 December 1778)
19 April 1763 – 31 December 1778Age 61/77
119Paolo Renier
(21 November 1710 – 13 February 1789)
14 January 1779–13 February 1789Age 68/78
120Ludovico Manin
(14 May 1725 – 24 October 1802)
10 March 1789 – 12 May 1797Forced to abdicate by Napoleon. Age 63/71 at abdication/77 at death

Legacy

After the Fall of the Republic of Venice, the position of Doge was abolished. Instead, from 1806 to 1866, a Podestà of Venice was appointed by the rulers of the city: Napoleon and the Habsburgs.

In 1860, the nascent Kingdom of Italy created the office of the Mayor of Venice (Sindaco di Venezia), chosen by the City council.

From 1946 to 1993, the Mayor of Venice was chosen by the City Council. Since 1993, under provisions of new local administration law, the Mayor of Venice has been chosen by popular election, originally every four and, later, every five years.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Francesco Zazzera, Della nobilta dell'Italia parte prima. Del signor D. Francesco Zazzera napoletano. Alla sereniss. e catol. maesta' del re Filippo 3. nostro signore, 1615, p. 16. English translated from original (italian of XVII century): «MARINO a very eloquent man, he was so versed in politics and the reasons of state that his opinion prevailing, in all the Consults and Councils, he rose in such a way that he had to sit in the Dogal Seat, after the death of Pietro Gradenigo, in which place ruled Doge 49th being created according to the truest opinion the year 1311. because others want it to be in 1303. where knowing himself (however given to the later spiritual, and contemplative life) not able, according to his desire to wait; on the contrary, unfortunately they seemed to him too strange and different from each other, detesting his first studies, and regretting having spent so many years madly; Moved by divine inspiration, the tenth month and tenth day of his rule, renouncing that dignity, he retired to his villa, where I refrain from the practices, conversations and of the century; some want him to die in the Religion of the Benedictines, and others in his ancient solitude, where from the beginning leading his life he chose to withdraw completely from the world: and so it was in truth, because advancing continuously in the wilderness, if I did, he almost lost his life A hermitic until 1320 who gave back the spirit to her Creator, she acquired Standofi a soura name of Saint; and offering the opportunity to more affectionate relatives, to originate a new surname. when he had grown up, seeing Zazzera wearing a hat up to his shoulders, as was mentioned by all of Zazzera, so Pietro, his brother, was the reason to take it away for his undertaking on the journey to the Embassy, where he was destined; and to his successors he later formed a new surname: which having done this briefly, the aforementioned Andrea Dandolo in the Chronicle of him mentions with the aforementioned words, adding advantageously, as at his own expense, he built the noble Temple of San Domenico; also endowing him with an income suitable for many fathers: all that was content to have his bones buried in the Church of S. Giovanni and Paolo, where his almost continuous residence was. » «MARINO huomo eloquentissimo, fu di maniera versato ne la Politica, e ne le ragioni di Stato che prevalendo la sua opinione, in tutte le Consulte, e Consegli, in maniera si sollevò, che gli ne toccò à seder nel Segio Dogale, dopo la morte di Pietro Gradenigo, nel qual luogo governò Doge 49° essendo creato secondo la più vera epinione l'an.1311.perche altri vogliono che fusse nel 1303.oue conoscendosi (dato però à la vita dopo spirituale, e contemplativa) non potere, conforme al suo desiderio attendere; anzi pur troppo strana parendogli, e diversa l'una da l'altra operazione, detestando i suoi primi studi, e pentito di haver cosi follemente Spesi tanti anni; mosso da divina ispirazione, il decimo mese, e decimo giorno del suo dominio, à quella dignità renunziando, si ritirò in una sua Villa, ove remoro da le pratiiche, conversazioni e del secolo; alcuni vogliono che morisse ne la Religion di Benedettini, ed altri ne l'antica sua solitudine, ove fin dal principio menar vita si elesse in tutto ritirata dal mondo: e così fu invero, perche avanzandosi continuamente ne la inselvatichir se medefimo, menò quasi vita Eremitica fino al 1320 che rendè lo spirito al suo Creatore, acqui Standofi un soura nome di Santo; e porgendo occasione à parenti più affezzionati, di originarsi nuovo coagnome. posciache cresciuta vedendosegli fina a le spalle una Zazzera, à capelliera, com'era da tutti de la Zazzera menzionato, così à Pietro suo fratello fu cagione di toglierla per sua Impresa nel viaggio de l'Ambasceria, ove fu destinato; ed à soccessori suoi dopò di formarlo nuovo cognome: che fatto ciò brevemente il sudetto Andrea Dandolo ne la sua Cronica accenna con le parole sudette, soggiungendo di vantaggio, come a proprie sue spese, edificasse il nobilissimo Tempio di San Domenico; dotandolo eziandio di rendita conveniente per molti padri: tutto che si contentasse far sepellir le sue ossa, ne la Chiesa di S. Giovanni, e Paolo, ov'era la sua quasi continua abitazione.»
  2. Francesco Zazzera, "Della nobilta dell'Italia parte prima", publisher Gio. Battista Gargano, & Lucretio Nucci, year: 1615