Doge

Doge [ do ː ʒə ], of Venetian ( Venexian ): Doxe [ do ː ze ], the title was chosen leaders in a number of Italian republics of the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The title of the wife of a Doge is dogaressa.

Word Meaning

The word Doge is an Italian dialect word. Derived is the name from the Latin dux, a concept of Roman administration: From the 4th century, a master was among the Romans dux the name for the top military commander of a frontier province, while giving them usually in late antiquity in the companies belonging to the Byzantine Empire areas of the Soldiers ( Captains ) was superior. In modern standard Italian distinguishes between Doge and Duce. Many European languages ​​, such as English, French, Spanish took over the doge word to describe this specific form of Italian rule, while doge in German is often misleadingly translated as Duke.

Venice, Genoa, Senarica

The most powerful Doge ( Venetian: Doxe, can) had the Republic of Venice, whose main rival the Republic of Genoa was, whose head is also the title of Doge led. In the Republic of Venice and the residents of Murano elected a Doge and the head of the Venetian church of San Nicolò dei Nicoloti bore the title box. The territories of these trading republics were rather small, but their trading empires, extended far to Europe, Africa and Asia.

Senarica, another insignificant compared to Venice and Genoa Republic in Abruzzo on the Adriatic Riviera also chose (probably a year) their Doge, from 1343 to the annexation by the Neapolitan Kingdom of Sicily 1797.

Customs of the Doge of Venice

The Dogenmütze was the characteristic garment of the Doge of Venice, which he led in his coat of arms instead of a crown. The cape in the form of a Mozzetta was made ​​of brocade fabric, often cloaked as a symbol of power of ermine, the lower mantle often with lush lynx fur.

The graves of most of the Doge of Venice are in the church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo.