Vitale Faliero

Vitale Falier († 1096 ), also called Vital Faliero de ' Doni, was the 32nd Doge of Venice. He reigned from 1084 to 1096. During his reign Venice's political and economic power consolidated in the Adriatic. The sepulcher of the Apostle Mark was inaugurated in the presence of the German Emperor.

Life

Falier, who had been in the uprising against his predecessor Domenico Selvo the driving force, was elected in December 1084 to the Doge. His reign was characterized by both foreign policy successes as well as by serious domestic problems.

From the beginning of his reign Falier as its predecessor in armed conflict with the Normans was involved under the leadership of the ambitious and brilliant strategist Robert Guiscard, who fought against Byzantium and the Pope for supremacy in southern Italy and in the Adriatic. In 1085 he succeeded in Butrint a decisive victory against the Normans, who, however, were weakened by the spread of a disease, possibly typhoid or dysentery, which had its leader Robert Guiscard and rows of decimated the troops. The Byzantine emperor Alexios Komnenos, he received the recognition and the title of protosevasto ( proto = primo / the first sevasto = augustus ) and a little later with the Duke of Dalmatia and Croatia, even if only a narrow coastal strip of the rule of the Venetians was, was annexed during most of the former Croatian territory of Hungary. Pro forma the Adriatic continued Byzantine dominion, in reality, the Venetians were now masters of the Adriatic Sea.

The gain in influence and rank within the European powers, which the Serenissima had now acquired, demonstrated by the participation of Emperor Henry IV at the inauguration of the St. Mark's Basilica.

The facilities operated by Selvo of San Marco with mosaics had since been completed, and the cathedral was consecrated in 1094. As the relics of the apostle were lost for the heavy fire of 976, asked Doge, clergy and the community with fasting and praying for the reappearance of the city's patron. Miraculously, then a marble pillar near the altar and the bronze sarcophagus of the saint opened came to the fore, but was immediately brought back to a secret location, known only to the Doge and the procurators. The grave remained hidden for the next few centuries. It was not until 1811 accidentally discovered a skeleton and a lead plate with the number 1094, the initiation date of the basilica during excavations in the crypt.

The miraculous events to the reappearance of the Apostle made ​​a decisive contribution to the strengthening of Markus cult in Venice. Coins that were minted at that time, bore the image of the Apostle and the inscription S. Marcus Venecia. The Emperor himself, who had raised a daughter of the Doge of baptism, renewed all the privileges of Venice and the Doge honored the same extent as a Byzantine emperor.

The last years of Falier government were marked by earthquakes, floods, inflation and famine, and in the town of the discontent grew with the Doge, where you zuschob the blame for all evil. As Falier at Christmas 1096 died he was only just escaped he was deposed.

Falier was buried in the atrium of San Marco. On a marble tablet is reminiscent of the Doge as King of Kings and improver of the laws.

Pictures

• On one side, next to the high altar of San Marco is a mosaic with the portrait of the Doge. It is perhaps the first recorded authentic image of a Doge of Venice.