Council of Ten

The Council of Ten (Italian Consiglio dei Dieci ) was since its inception in 1310 one of the most important bodies in the justice system and rule of the Venetian Republic. Established as an extraordinary Court, the Council of Ten soon became a permanent institution as the highest court and Police Board, which was responsible for investigating political. During the 15th century, he was able to acquire more skills, so that he became a kind of super-ministry, in which the political power of the Republic concentrated. End of the 16th century, the Great Council, the body to withdraw powers again began to restricting it to its original function as judicial and police authority.

Foundation

After the failed conspiracy of Tiepolo Baiamonte an associate Court was established in Venice on 10 July 1310 should reveal the widely ramified network of relationships of the conspirators and pass sentence this.

First, the existence of this temporary institution should be extended every two months, the government decided to extend this interval to five years. On July 20, 1335 was finally elevated to a permanent institution.

Members

The panel consisted of ten ordinary members appointed by the Grand Council ( Consiglio Maggior ) of the Senate ( Consiglio dei initially Rogati or Pregati, later Senato ) were selected. It was only after one year a member could be re-elected ( contumacia ). Apart from the ten councils were also the Doge, who presided at the meetings, and the Little Council, which consisted of the six closest advisors of the Doge, voting members. Thus, the decisions of the Council of Ten were properly like a Avogado di comun was present. He was a kind prosecutor, who, however, had no right to vote and had to watch only the outer form of choices - possibly also against the Ten.

During the trial of the Doge Marin Falier in 1355 the panel's so-called Zonta, an extension or supplement was increased ( in this case, 20 men). Its members were first appointed by the Council of the Ten himself, later elected by the Grand Council. The Zonta initially had only an advisory role and was only in the course of time have full voting rights.

Monthly chose the three heads of Ten ( Capi ), who were responsible for the management. Moreover, were appointed from 1313 occasionally State Inquisitors. They were responsible for the maintenance of public security and for investigations related to political offenses, were from 1539 to lasting and in their skills more and more advanced setup.

Tasks and office management

Initially was the Council of Ten, the Supreme Court and (later) the main authority of the State Police. He had to watch over the public safety and the maintenance of public order, uncover conspiracies and espionage cases, and he was responsible for sentencing in cases of high treason. Was the Council in its early days a frequently meets on group alternating members of the most powerful clans - equipped with comprehensive tracking rights, which included also torture, assassination, secret funds, with attached Court and eingegliedertem clerk's office - came a wealth of other skills in the course of time added. So he controlled since the 15th century, the firm of the Doge, became the superior authority of the Armed Forces ( Ministry of War ), was responsible for the prosecution of violations of the Duellierverbot and became the top authority of forestry and mining industries. Added to this was the ultimate supervision of the glass factories on Murano, the public spectacles, the prostitutes and the alms collections.

Soon the power of this Council was not limited to internal matters of state, but also extended to the foreign policy. So corresponded the body, sometimes without the knowledge of the actual government, with the mainland rectors, as well as ambassadors and foreign ambassadors. End of the 15th century, the Council drew even all matters of financial policy itself and developed into a kind of super-ministry with the highest competence in all government affairs.

With such a power accumulation it does not seem surprising that slowly displeasure felt to the broad ranks of the nobility. In 1529 the Council of Ten reduced the original twenty -man crew of the Zonta on 15 and thus withdrew even more resistance from important families, since the influence of the Council of Ten was by this reduction in even fewer people.

To counteract the accumulation of powers of the Panel, the Great Council in 1582 refused to choose the Zonta. The pressure of the nobility grew. They demanded that the Council of Ten competencies would leave and of Ten finally relented. The first measure to curb the influence of the Council, was to the Inquisitori di Stato convert it into an independently operating authority, which was subordinate to the Senate. Soon after, the government withdrew the of Ten for the supervision of the Zecca ( ​​Mint) and the financial sector (see Economic history of the Republic of Venice).

The competence withdrawal was completed only in the 17th century, and in 1644 the Council of Ten was again the instance that he actually had originally intended to be: a supreme court for the nobility and for the adjudication of state offenses.

With undercover investigations, spying and a still visible in Venice " informers mailbox" at the Doge's Palace, the Council made ​​the Ten for a rigorous national Regieme. In particular, the interference in the private lives of all walks of life, strict prohibitions and the imposition of draconian penalties, let no good light falling on that authority. And there were also in the scientific literature repeatedly expressed doubts to the effect that complaints about the Terrorregieme the Council of Ten are exaggerated by interested parties. The Council of Ten was the epitome of state control what a Venetian proverb is clearly indicated: " What do three Venetians, says the Council of Ten ".

Nevertheless, it did not always work to the Council, to enforce compliance with adopted regulations. For example, banned in 1339, the authority of the nobility wearing masks (even in Carnival time ). How little the ban was observed, evidenced by the fact that the Council of Ten, it had in 1458, 1461, 1502 and 1504, 1606, 1608 repeat.

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