Venice: Longest Lasting Republic
Venice Was an Independent State for 1100 Years
Venice combined business prowess, backed by naval power, with her unique form of republican government to create the most enduring independent state in history.
The Most Serene Republic of Venice was the world’s longest enduring independent state, far eclipsing all others. The Dutch Republic has existed for 214 years. The United States has endured for 231 years. The much-admired Roman Republic survived 565 years. Most historians agree that Venice was founded in 697and endured for an amazing 1100 years before Napoleon dissolved her government during his First Italian Campaign in 1797, when Venice violated her proclaimed neutrality by permitting the Austrian army he recently defeated to retreat through her sovereign territory. By then once-powerful Venice was little more than a decadent stop on the European "Grand Tour". However, this was not always so.
Venice as a World Power
In her glorious past, Venice led the conquest of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade (1204) pillaging the great city’s fabulous wealth, supplanting it as the greatest city in Europe. Later, Venice defeated attempts, by jealous leagues of rival Italian city-states, to conquer her. In the Battle of Lepanto (1571) Venice joined with Pope Pius V and Don Juan of Austria to defeat the numerically superior Ottoman Turk’s fleet, halting their expansion for nearly 100 years. Though her terra firma lands were always vulnerable, the city of Venice occupied a small impregnable group of islands, secure from land invasion in their lagoon, protected by her vaunted navy.
The Venetians led in the development of many modern business concepts, enabling her to reap great wealth from trade. They invented modern banking and her ducat was the standard coin of Europe. Venice had the first public water, government pensions, and the largest factory (Arsenal) in Europe. Her extensive scuoli or guild system enabled Venice to lead the way in many arts and crafts, most important, glass-making. This, combined with her naval superiority enabled her to control lucrative Mediterranean trade routes to the spice-rich East.
Venice’s Decline
Venice’s long decline started when she sent troops to help defend Byzantine Constantinople against the besieging Turks (1453). After the city fell to Sultan Mehmet II he declared war on Venice. It lasted thirty years and cost Venice much of her eastern Mediterranean possessions. Next, Spain discovered the New World. Then Portugal found a sea route to India, destroying Venice’s land route monopoly. France, England and Holland followed them. Venice’s oared galleys could not traverse the open seas. She was left behind in the race for colonies.
Venice’s Key to Longevity
All through her decline Venice retained her strong and unifying political institutions. Unlike the Athenian and Roman Republics which both ended in civil wars and dictatorships, Venice’s ruling oligarchy was usually aligned and her leaders were loyally subordinate to the rule of law.
Sources:
A History of Venice, John Julius Norwich (1981), Publ. Allen Lane, ISBN 0-679-72197-5
Venice: Lion City, The Religion of Empire , Gary Wills (2001), ISBN 0-684-87190-4
The Renaissance, Will Durant (1953). New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN-13: 9781567310160
