Orso Ipato

Orso Ipato († 737 ) was the third Doge of Venice. He reigned from 727 to 737

After the death Tegallianos native of Eraclea Orso was elected by acclamation to the Doge. His reign fell into a restless phase of Italian history, because in Italy the effects of Byzantine iconoclasm were felt of. Due to a decree by Emperor Leo III had been triggered.

728, a year after he took office, the Lombard king Liutprand fell into Byzantine territory around Ravenna one, conquered the city and drove the Exarch of Ravenna, who fled in the Venetian lagoon. Then the Venetians sent their navy, expelled the invaders and put the exarch back into his office. Orso was rewarded by the Byzantine emperor the honorary title ipato, the later chroniclers and historians held for his own name.

737 Orso was probably murdered in the context of a face- conspiracy with the Lombards against Byzantium. His son Diodato was expelled from Venice. In the next five years, Venice was ruled by Byzantium by a magister militum, each with a one-year term of office before 742 Diodato Ipato was elected Doge.