Early Venice
Venice didn’t appear out of nothing – there was something before which led to the Venice we know as the Serenissima.
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The Lombard Invasion
The Lombard invasion of Byzantine Italy in 568 was a pivotal event in Venetian history, as it kicked off the movement towards a distinct Venetian society, culture and, ultimately, state.
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The invasion of Venetia — Paul the Deacon
The Lombard invasion of Venetia in 568 — from “Historia Langobardorum” by Paul the Deacon.
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The “Historia Langobardorum” by Paul the Deacon
The “Historia Langobardorum” is the oldest chronicle relevant to the history of Venice. It probably dates to the 780s or 790s.
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Translatio Marci Evangelistae Venetias (English)
This document is the earliest description of the translation of St Mark to Venice in 827–828, and also of early Venice. This is a translation by René Seindal.
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De Administrando Imperio
Translation of the parts related to Venice of the “De Administrando Imperio” (c.950) by Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus.
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Translatio Marci Evangelistae Venetias (Latin)
This document is the earliest description of the translation of St Mark to Venice in 827–828, and also of early Venice. This is the original Latin text.
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Early Venice
The history of how Venice came about is long and complicated. The story started before the Romans, and proceeded with the Huns, the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines, the Lombards and the Franks, with the Venetians in-between. The entire process, which ultimately led to a country called Venice, lasted several centuries, but it was far from a…
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Archaeological digs in St. Mark’s square
Archaeological digs in the Piazza San Marco have uncovered parts of the ancient church of San Giminiano and a grave of four persons
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A Drawing of Venice from c. 1350
Dr Sandra Toffolo of the University of St Andrews has found a drawing of Venice from the 1300s in a manuscript in Florence
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Venice might not have been
Venice was an independent state for almost a millennium, but it might note have been. It all hinged on a single battle fought in the Venetian lagoon in 810.