Maurizio Galbaio

Maurizio Galbaio or Maurizio Galiono († 787) was, according to tradition the seventh doge of Venice. He reigned from 764 to 787 Maurizio was one of the first great Doge of Venice. In the 22 years of his reign, the first steps were taken to Venice's rise and political independence.

With Maurizio, who came from Eraclea, a byzanzfreundlicher Doge was elected, while the families Malamoccos were rather followers of the Franks. He therefore expected even in his disputes with the Pope, who wanted to expand his territory at the expense of the Veneti, on the support of the Eastern Roman Emperor Leo IV, who had appointed him after the election of the Master of the Soldiers and Ipato (consul ).

The appointment as Ipato provoked the Lombard king Desiderius. Desiderius pursued the goal of restoring the Lombard kingdom in its former glory. He opened in northern Italy to fight on all fronts and Maurizio became embroiled in the power struggles between the last Lombard king, the Pope and the Franks Charles. In order to secure its influence in the lagoon, Desiderius took the son of the Doge, who had fought on the side of the Byzantines in Istria against the Lombards, as a hostage. The Langobardenfeldzug Charles ended with the destruction of the Lombard kingdom. Charles himself could be put on the 774 Langobardenkrone. At his instigation the Dogensohn was released.

The powerful Frankish Empire was now dangerously close to the small Veneto zoom moved, and Maurizio sought to strengthen the old ties to Byzantium. He managed to obtain the confirmation of his son as his successor in Dogenamt by the Eastern Roman Emperor. His goal should it have been to abolish the election of the Doge by the Venetians, and to make the office hereditary, a policy that should the internal power struggles in Venice determine the next few years.

New threats to Venice came from Holy Father. With the support of Charlemagne, Pope Hadrian I had taken possession of the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna and sold all Venetian merchants. The justification of Venice and Byzantium ' trade was called with slaves and eunuchs.

During his last years Venice expanded steadily, more and more islands in the lagoon and coastal areas came under his rule.

Maurizio Galbaio died - unlike its predecessor - during his time in office of natural causes. He left behind two daughters and a son, who succeeded him in Dogenamt.