Book 9780461946536

Histoire De La République De Venise by Comte Pierre Antoine Bruno Daru. This historical work chronicles the origins, institutions, and fortunes of the Venetian Republic from its marshy beginnings on Rialto through the establishment of the doges, the growth of naval power, and its later involvement in Crusades and Eastern politics. The narrative traces how Venice emerged from a lagoon-based community of refugees to a resilient maritime republic that outpaced its Italian neighbors in commerce and diplomacy. It covers Roman and Gothic invasions, the Lombard era, the rise of the ducal system, the growth of the lagoon cities' self-government, and the transformation of the political order into an oligarchic structure governed by the grand council and the senate, culminating in imperial ambitions after the Fourth Crusade: the conquest of Constantinople in 1204. The subsequent conflicts with Genoa and other powers shaped the republic's fortunes. The work emphasizes Venetian pragmatism, balancing between East and West, Church and Empire, while shaping the Mediterranean's political map, and it offers a detailed chronicle of the doges, rivalries, reforms, and crises that defined Venice's ascent and trials.