Republic of Venice
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Sestiere – sestieri
Venice is divided into six sestiere whose origin is as old as the city of Venice itself. As far as we know, they have always been there.
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John Adams on the Venetian constitution
John Adams wrote about the Venetian constitution in 1787 in the “A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America”.
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The Maggior Consiglio
The Maggior Consiglio – or the Great Council – was the highest authority of the Venetian Republic. It was not, however, an elected body. It was the entire electorate.
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The Doge
The doge was the elected head of the Venetian Republic. He was elected for life by an arcane process that also included drawing lots.
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Marin Falier – doge and traitor
Marin Falier was a doge of Venice, but he was beheaded on April 17th, 1355, for having orchestrated a coup against the state he led