Giovanni I Participazio

Giovanni I. Participazio also Partecipazio († 836 ) was, according to tradition the 12th Doge of Venice. He reigned from 829 to 836 Giovanni's little happiness -like reign was marked by internal political tensions and conspiracies against him both within and outside of Venice. During his tenure, the first predecessor of St. Mark Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel built to contain the relics of St. Mark.

Family

The Partecipazio belonged to the noble families of Venice tribunician. These families were wealthy landowners, holders of high political and military posts in Venetia, which was part of the Eastern Roman Empire until the beginning of the 9th century and who had managed to make the Byzantine office of tribune hereditary. From the beginning of the 9th to the middle of the 10th century, the family repeatedly tried to make Venice a hereditary monarchy.

Life

During the stay of his brother Konstantin in Opel Giustiniano his father had appointed him co-regent. As Giustiniano returned to Venice, lost Giovanni, who belonged to the pro- Frankish party of the nobility, his office, was sent to Zara into exile, but recalled after the death of the father of his already elderly brother to Venice. After the death Giustinianos Giovanni took over the Dogenamt.

The Dogenamt

During his government was under his predecessors promoted vigorously construction of the Holy Sepulchre for Holy Mark, inaugurated a predecessor of today's St. Mark's Basilica.

After two years in office, succeeded the exiled to Constantinople Opel Obelerio Antenoreo to escape from exile and to embark with a troop of armed men to Venice. He soon took possession of the island Vigilata not far from Malamocco. Giovanni responded immediately, devastated Malamocco, which looked at the Antenoreo as their territory, destroyed Vigilata, Obelerio captured, beheaded him and put his head to the Venetians on display.

No sooner was this revolt down, as a revolt of the Byzantine tribunes Caroso forced him to flee to the Frankish court, where he was received by King Lothar with benevolence. Caroso declared itself the Doge, was but three months later by the followers of Partecipazio, who knew how to draw many discontented with the rule of the usurper to her side, captured in the Doge's Palace, blinded and driven out of Venice.

Until the return of Giovanni, the Bishop of Olivolo led the government. Giovanni was initially received with full honors in Venice, saw, however, faced a short time later with new resistors due to its rigorous style of government. Led by the family of Mastalici the Doge was captured after leaving the San Pietro di Castello church, shaven and shorn and deported to Grado, where he was forcibly taken to the priest. He died there around 836, leaving no heirs.