STATE OF, a celebrated republic, which for nearly ten centuries formed one of the most powerful of the maritime states of Europe. Its dominions lay chiefly along the coasts at the head of the Adriatic sea, comprehending not only a considerable tract round the city of Venice, but several districts both to the east and west of that sea, together with the islands of Corfu, Zante, Cephalonia, Cerigo, and some others of less note, in the Archipelago. It was bounded to the north by the Alps, to the west by the duchy of Milan, and to the east by Croatia, a province of Turkey in Europe.

The republic of Venice is said to have taken its rise from a small Italian colony, who in the middle of the 5th century were driven by Attila king of the Huns from the cities of Aquileia, Verona, Mantua, &c. and took refuge in the group of small islands where now stands the city of Venice. Here they established themselves, and formed a small independent state, adopting the consular form of government which had so long prevailed at Rome. By the end of the 5th century they had become of consequence, and were able to raise and maintain a fleet and a small army. They engaged in a war with the Lombards, and distinguished themselves against the Istrian pirates, and the inhabitants of the neighbouring port of Trieste. They also assisted Justinian in his contest with the Goths, and received from him and his general Narfes, many marks of favour and distinction.

About the year 697, the tribunitian power, which had prevailed in Venice from the end of the 5th century, was abolished, and the states elected a supreme magistrate, whom they called doge, or duke. He was to represent the honour and majesty of the state; to assemble and preside at the great council, where he had a calling vote in all disputed points; to nominate to all offices, places, and preferments, and to enjoy the same authority in the church as in the state. Excepting a short intermission of about five years, the power of the doges continued till the fall of the republic.

Under the doges, the power and wealth of the republic continued to increase. In 765, the Heraclians and Gezulans, subjects of the republic, revolted, and threw themselves on the protection of the emperor Charlemagne. That emperor settled them for the present at Malamoe, in the neighbourhood of the Venetian capital; but from this asylum they were quickly driven by the forces of the republic. Incensed at this affront committed against his authority, Charlemagne ordered his son Pepin to declare war against the Venetians; but as Astolphus king of the Lombards was then laying waste the territories of the church, the troops of Pepin were, by the intreaties of the pope, dispatched against that powerful monarch; and though, on the defeat of Astolphus they marched against the Venetians, it does not appear that the enterprise was productive of either honour or success. The war with Pepin was renewed in 804, on occasion of Obelerio, the doge of Venice, shewing an inclination to favour the Greek emperor Nicephorus against Pepin. Obelerio was related to the French monarch, having married his sister; and as on this account the Venetians were jealous of the attachment of their doge, he was superceded, and Valentin nominated commander in his place. Pepin had collected a numerous and well appointed army, and had fitted out a fleet to act against the Venetians by sea. With this formidable force he advanced directly to Venice, but here he was opposed with all the valour of independent citizens fighting for their liberties.

The Venetians, however, notwithstanding the most intrepid and successful defence, the most vigorous fallies, and their fellings every inch of ground at an incredible expense of blood, were at length reduced to that part of the city south of the Rialto (see the next article); this stream and their own bravery, being now their only defence. While Pepin was preparing to throw a bridge over the canal, they resolved, as a last effort, to attack Pepin's fleet, and to vanquish or die in defence of their liberty. Embarking all the troops they could spare, they bore down with the advantage of the wind and tide, upon the enemy, and began the attack with such fury, as obliged the French admiral to give way. The lightness of their ships, and the knowledge of the foundings, gave the Venetians every advantage they could wish; the enemy's fleet was run aground, and the greater part of their troops perished in attempting to escape: the ships were all to a few either taken or destroyed. During this action at sea, Pepin resolved to assault the city by land, not doubting but the garrison was so weakened by the number of forces they had sent on board the fleet, as to be able to make but a slight resistance. Having for this purpose thrown a bridge over the Rialto, he was marching his troops across it, when he found himself attacked on every side by the Venetians from their boats, and others who had posted themselves on the bridge. The battle was long, bloody, and doubtful, until the Venetians employed all their power to break down the bridge; which at last yielding to their obstinate endeavours, a prodigious slaughter of the French ensued; they fought, however, like men in despair, seeing no hopes of safety but in victory; but all communication being cut off with the troops on shore, they were to a man either killed or drowned. The number of slain was so great, that the space between the Rialto and Malamoe was covered with dead bodies, and has ever since gone by a name expressive of the prodigious slaughter. Pepin was so struck with the intrepidity of the Venetians, that he raised the siege, abandoned the enterprise, and concluded a peace with the republic.

In 839, the Venetians engaged in an offensive and defensive alliance against the Saracens, with the Greek fleet defeated by emperor Michael, to whose assistance they sent a fleet of 60 galleys. In an engagement which took place between the allied fleets and that of the Saracens, the former mer were completely defeated, and almost all the Venetian galleys were either taken or destroyed. On the news of this defeat, the capital was thrown into the greatest consternation, justly dreading an attack from the victorious Saracens. This alarm, however, soon subsided, on finding that the barbarians had turned off on the side of Ancona. The city now became a prey to internal dissension. Popular tumults were frequent, and in one of these the doge was murdered. By the prudent and vigorous administration of a succeeding doge, Orso Participato, good order was re-established, and at the commencement of the 10th century, the reputation of the republic for military prowess was much advanced by a victory gained over the Huns, who had invaded Italy, and defeated Berengarius.

Towards the close of the 11th century, Venice began to make a considerable figure among the states of Europe, having acquired the sovereignty of Dalmatia and Croatia, with which in 1084 they were formally invested by the Constantinopolitan emperor.

About this time a crusade, or holy war against the Saracens, was preached up by the emiraries of the pope, and the Venetian republic engaged in the undertaking with such ardour, as to equip a fleet of 200 sail, under the command of the doge Vitalis Michael. Before he failed for the coast of Asia, however, the doge found it necessary to chastise the Pisans, whom he defeated in a terrible engagement. He then sailed for Aksalon, at that time besieged by the Christian forces, and it was chiefly by his valour that that city, as well as Caipha and Tiberias, fell into the hands of the Christians. From these victories he was recalled to repel an invasion of Dalmatia by the Normans, whom he also defeated, carrying off considerable booty. His successor assisted Baldwin in the conquest of Ptolemais, but was defeated and killed in attempting to quell a rebellion of the Croatians.

Under the government of Domenico Micheli, who succeeded Ordelapho, the pope's nuncio arrived at Venice, and excited such a spirit of enthusiasm among all ranks and degrees of men, that they strove whose names should be first enrolled for the holy war. The doge, having fitted out a fleet of 60 galleys, failed with it to Joppa, which place the Saracens were at that time besieging. The garrison was reduced to the last extremity when the Venetian fleet arrived, which surprised and defeated that of the enemy with great slaughter; soon after which the Saracens raised the siege with precipitation. Tyre was next besieged, and soon was obliged to capitulate; on which occasion, as well as on the taking of Aksalon, the Venetians shared two-thirds of the spoils. While the doge was absent on those important affairs, the emperor of Constantinople, jealous of the growing power of the Venetians, resolved to take advantage of their apparent incapacity to resist an attack at home. The Venetians, however, had timely notice of his approach, and instantly recalled the doge, who on his return laid waste and destroyed the country round Chios, seized on the islands of Samos, Lefbos, and Andros, then belonging to the emperor, and reduced several places in Dalmatia which had revolted.

In 1173, the republic ventured to oppose Frederick Barbarossa in his attack on the pope. Frederick, after a haughty reply to an embassy sent him by the Venetians, dispatched against them his son Otho, who soon arrived before the city with 75 galleys. The doge Sebastiano Ziani failed out with the few vessels he had got equipped, to give the enemy battle. The fleets met off the coast of Istria, and a terrible engagement ensued, in which the imperial fleet was totally defeated, Otho himself taken prisoner, and 48 of his ships destroyed. On the doge's return, the pope went out to meet him, and presented him with a ring, saying, "Take this, Ziani, and give it to the sea, as a testimony of your dominion over it." Let your successors annually perform the same ceremony, that posterity may know that your valour has purchased this prerogative, and subjected this element to you, even as a husband subjects his wife." Otho was treated with the respect due to his rank, and soon conceived a great friendship for Ziani. At last, being permitted to visit the imperial court, on his parole, he not only prevailed on his father to make peace with the Venetians, but even to visit their city, so famed for its commerce and naval power. He was received with all possible respect, and on his departure attended to Ancona by the doge, the senate, and the whole body of the nobility. During this journey he was reconciled to the pope; and both agreed to pay the highest honours to the doge and republic.

In the beginning of the 13th century, the Venetians in conjunction with the French, besieged and took Constantinople, as has been related under the article Constantinopolitan History, No 144—146, which they held till the year 1261.

In the mean time the Genoese, by their successful War with application to commerce, having raised themselves in such a manner as to be capable of rivalling the Venetians, a long series of wars took place between the republics; in which the Venetians generally had the advantage, though sometimes they met with terrible overthrow. These expensive and bloody quarrels undoubtedly contributed to weaken the republic notwithstanding its successes. In the year 1348, however, the Genoese were obliged to implore the protection of Visconti duke of Milan, in order to support them against their implacable enemies the Venetians. Soon after this, in the year 1352, the latter was utterly defeated with such loss, that it was thought the city itself must have fallen into the hands of the Genoese, had they known how to improve their victory. This was in a short time followed by a peace; but from this time the power of the republic began to decline. Continual war with the states of Italy, with the Hungarians, and their own rebellious subjects, kept the Venetians employed, so that they had no leisure to oppose the Turks, whose rapid advances might have alarmed all Europe. After the destruction of the eastern empire, however, in 1453 the Turks began more immediately to interfere with the republic. Whatever valour might be shewn by the Venetians, or whatever successes they might boast of, it is certain the Turks ultimately prevailed; so that for some time it seemed scarcely possible to resist them. What also contributed greatly to the decline of the republic, was the discovery of a passage to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope in 1497. Till then the greatest part of the East India goods imported into Europe passed through the hands of the Venetians; but as soon as the Cape was discovered, the conveyance by the way of Alexandria almost entirely ceased. Still, however, the Venetian power power was strong; and in the beginning of the 16th century they maintained a war against almost the whole force of France, Germany, and Italy, afflicated against them in what has been called the League of Cambrai. Soon after, however, we find them entering into an alliance with the king of France against the emperor.

After this, nothing of importance occurs in the history of the Venetian republic till the year 1645, when the republic was involved in a new and sanguinary conflict with the Turks, in defence of the important island of Candia. The transactions to which this war gave rise, and the spirit and bravery displayed by the Venetians, in defending their colonial possessions, are amply detailed under the article CANDIA.

At the end of the 17th century, the Venetians obtained an important acquisition of territory by the conquest of the Morea, which at the peace of Carlowitz in 1699, was formally ceded by Turkey to the state of Venice*.

During the war of the Succession, the states of Venice observed a strict neutrality. They considered that dispute as unconnected with their interests; taking care, however, to keep on foot an army on their frontiers in Italy, of sufficient force to make them respected by the belligerent powers. But soon after the peace of Utrecht, the Venetians were again attacked by their old enemies the Turks, who beholding the great European powers exhausted by their late efforts, and unable to assist the republic, thought this the favourable moment for recovering the Morea, which had been so lately ravished from them. The Turks obtained their object, and at the peace of Passarowitz in 1715, which terminated this unsuccessful war, the Venetian states yielded up the Morea; the grand seignior on his part restoring to them the small islands of Cerigo and Cerigetto, with some places which his troops had taken during the course of the war in Dalmatia.

From the peace of Passarowitz to the conclusion of the 18th century, the affairs of Venice ceased to form an interesting part of the history of Europe. Ever since the league of Cambrai, the republic, weakened by its continual struggles with Turkey, had declined in power and in consequence, and was incapable of opposing a barrier to the encroachments of its more powerful neighbours. During the first war which the French republic maintained against the emperor in Italy, the states of Venice afforded a tempting object to each of the contending parties; and in May 1797, the capital was occupied by a body of French troops, who under pretence of quelling a tumult that had arisen in the city, took possession of the forts, and subverted the existing authorities. By the treaty of Campo Formio, concluded between the emperor and the French republic in October of the same year, the French consented that the emperor should take possession of the Venetian territory, with the islands in the Archipelago, which had been subject to the Venetian republic; and by the subsequent treaty of Luneville in 1801, this accession of territory to the house of Austria was confirmed, so that the Venetian republic must now be considered as an Austrian province.

It is not necessary for us, to be very minute in our account of the late constitution and government of Venice. The government was strictly aristocratical, being vested in the great council or senate, in which each of the nobility had a seat. The nobility were extremely numerous, being computed at not fewer than 2000, whereas the whole population of the state did not exceed 2,500,000. Besides the great council, or il consiglio grande, there were four others; one composed of the doge and six counsellors, called la signoria; another called il consiglio du pregodi, consisting of about 250 of the nobility; a third united to la signoria, consisting of 28 assessors, or great sages, which gave audience to ambassadors; and a fourth, composed of 10 counsellors, who took cognizance of all criminal matters, and before whom even the doge himself must appear, if accused. The secret business of the state was often carried on by spies and informers; and there were in the ducal palace several statues of lions with open mouths, which formed so many receptacles for secret and anonymous information.

The office and privileges of the doge of Venice have been already mentioned under the article DOGE. Of late this office was little more than nominal; and the doge was a mere state puppet, without authority and without power. His establishment, however, was splendid, and his revenue not contemptible. The mode of electing the doge deserves notice, as it was well calculated to prevent bribery, or the exertion of party influence. He was elected by a plurality of voices, and held his dignity for life. In his election they made use of gold and silver balls, which were put into a vessel, and served for balloting. Those who drew nine golden balls, first elected 40 counsellors, who drew 12 others, and elected 25 in addition. Of this number nine persons, who had drawn golden balls, chose 40 more; 11 of those, appointed in the same way, chose 41 counsellors, who finally proceeded to the election, till 25 votes or more fell upon the same person, who was then declared doge. After this election they placed the ducal cap upon his head, upon which he took possession of the doge's palace. He never uncovered his head to any person, because he did not wear the cap in his own name, but in that of the republic.

The military strength of the Venetians consisted of nearly 30,000 land forces, under the command of a capitano, who was always a foreigner of distinction; besides a considerable fleet, which they boasted could, in time of war, be increased to 60 men of war, and above 100 galleys. The ordinary revenues of the state have been computed at rather more than 1,000,000l. sterling, a considerable part of which arose from the customs, and the duty on salt made at Corfu and Chiofa.

city which was the seat of government of the Venetian republic, is built on 72 small islands at the head of the Adriatic or gulf of Venice, about five miles from the main land. That part of the gulf which lies between the city and the continent forms a kind of laguna or lake, which, at low water, is very shallow, and on the opposite side of the islands there are numerous shallows, the channels between which are marked by stakes, to direct ships in entering the port. The lagoons that lie between the islands form so many canals that intersect the city in all directions, and over these the streets communicate by not fewer than 500 bridges. The principal or great canal is broad, and has a serpentine course through the middle of the city, but the others are narrow and crooked. The streets are also narrow and winding, but clean and neat. The houses are built on piles, and have each a door opening to the adjacent adjacent canal, and another to the street. As the narrowness of the streets but ill adapts them for walking in, the only places of resort on land are the Rialto, a noble bridge across the great canal, bordered with booths and shops, and the great square of St Mark, or Piazza di St Marco, an irregular quadrangle, formed of several buildings, some of which are magnificent. Of these, the ducal palace, where the business of the state used to be transacted; the patriarchal church of St Mark; the steeple of St Mark, at a little distance from the church; the church of St Geminiano; and the new and old Procuraries, are most deserving the notice of travellers. The canals form the great medium of communication, as well as the principal scene of relaxation and amusement to the inhabitants. Here ply numerous gondolas, (see Gondola, and Macgill's Travels, vol. i.) which are rowed with admirable speed and dexterity by the gondoliers; and here are occasionally held races, or rather rowing matches. As the canals are, of necessity, the receptacles of all the filth of the city, they become, in hot weather, very offensive; while, in winter, from their free communication with the gulf, they are frequently agitated by the Adriatic storms. The whole city is about six miles in circumference, and the inhabitants are estimated at 160,000.

The inhabitants of Venice carried on a flourishing trade in silk manufactures, gold lace, mirrors and other articles of glass, besides military stores and implements of war. At some distance from the city there is a large and commodious lazaretto, where ships coming from the Levant unload their goods, and perform quarantine from 20 to 40 days.

This celebrated city, once the seat of power, opulence and the fine arts, whose carnival revelries have been the subject of so many animated descriptions, has undergone a melancholy change. Her streets and canals no longer resound with the strains of the musician and the serenades of watchful lovers, and her gay gondolas, which were formerly occupied by fashionable groups and parties of pleasure, are now become the vehicles of trade, or serve for the accommodation of the soldier and the mechanic. The trade of the city, which had long declined, has, since the cession of the Venetian territory to Austria, been almost entirely transferred to Trieste. Venice is 72 miles E. by N. of Mantua; 115 N. E. of Florence; 140 E. of Milan; 212 N. of Rome, and 300 N. by W. of Naples. E. Long. 12° 33'. N. Lat. 45° 26'.