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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Chronology of the Lombard invasion
A list of some of the main events of the Lombard conquest of Byzantine Venetia and other parts of Italy.
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The “Chronicon Altinate”
The “Chronicon Altinate” is one of the central medieval sources to early Venetian history, used extensively since it was written.
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Main sources for early Venice
A summary of the main primary sources for the early history of Venice, and where to find them.
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Did Narses invite the Lombards?
Why did the Lombards decide to invade Byzantine Italy in 568? A popular story was the Byzantine general Narses, who had just retaken Italy for the empire, invited them. Was Narses a traitor to the empire?
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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.