Maggior Consiglio (Greater Council or Grand Council)
The Maggior Consiglio was the sovereign body of the Republic of Venice, where all noblemen aged twenty-five or more participated.
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A Roman assassination attempt
On October 5th, 1607, the Roman church tried to assassinate the Venetian monk and theologist Fra’ Paolo Sarpi.
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Six hundred years of Lazzaretto Vecchio
On this day, six hundred years ago, the Senate of the Republic of Venice decided to create the first ever permanent plague hospital, the Lazzaretto Vecchio
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Casselleria — Curiosità Veneziane
“Casselleria” from Curiosità Veneziane by Giuseppe Tassini
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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