Who Was When

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Republic of VeniceRepubblica di Venezia

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A maritime republic ruled from a lagoon city by elected doges and a closed circle of noble families. It traded across the Mediterranean, took part in the Fourth Crusade, fought the Ottomans, and ended in 1797 under Napoleon.

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Key events

  1. – Venice chooses its first doge, traditionally Paoluccio Anafesto in 697 and, by Britannica's dating, Orso in 727Disputed

    The 1911 Britannica gives 697 for the first doge, Anafesto. Britannica gives 727 for Orso, "chosen in an anti-Byzantine military declaration".

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  2. The Arsenal, founded about 1104, grows into a state shipyard of basins, yards and workshops for sails, rope and gunsDisputed

    The 1911 Britannica and the World History Encyclopedia both give about 1104, under Doge Ordelaffo Falier. Wikipedia says there is no evidence for so precise a date and that a shipyard may have existed earlier, so the date is approximate.

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  3. Doge Enrico Dandolo leads Venice into the Fourth Crusade, which takes Constantinople and gives Venice part of the Byzantine lands

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  4. Ottoman forces invade the Venetian island of Cyprus after Venice refuses to give it up

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  5. A Holy League fleet with over 100 Venetian galleys defeats the Ottoman fleet off Lepanto on 7 October

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  6. Without an ally against Napoleon, Venice deposes its last doge, Ludovico Manin, on 12 May; France later hands the city to Austria