Commune Veneciarum
Encyclopedia
The Commune Veneciarum (Latin
for "City of Venice") is the title with which the government of the city of Venice
and its Republic
was designated from 1143. The municipality, similar to other medieval municipalities, was based on the popular power of the assembly called Concione in Venice, represented by the free people and with a system of assemblies derived from this: the Great Council
, Minor Council, Council of Pregadi and the Council of Forty. Unlike other Italian cities, however, in Venice remained some vestiges of their previous institution of the monarchy embodied by the Doge for setting bounds for the power that such assemblies were developing. The leading groups of most the towns gathered at the time around the core of the ancient patrician families, creating a new merchant aristocracy with the Serrata del Maggior Consiglio of 1297 and actually took over the power and ousting the popular assembly.
In the name of the Commune, however, it continued to operate the highest representative body of the state
's sovereignty
– including the Doge, the Minor Council and heads of the Forty – until 1423 with the abolition of the Concione which ended the last residue of municipal institutions, and the supreme body took the name of Serenissima Signoria.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "City of Venice") is the title with which the government of the city of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and its Republic
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
was designated from 1143. The municipality, similar to other medieval municipalities, was based on the popular power of the assembly called Concione in Venice, represented by the free people and with a system of assemblies derived from this: the Great Council
Great Council of Venice
The Great Council of Venice , originally the Consilium Sapientis was a political organ of the Republic of Venice between 1172 and 1797 and met in a special large hall of the Palazzo Ducale....
, Minor Council, Council of Pregadi and the Council of Forty. Unlike other Italian cities, however, in Venice remained some vestiges of their previous institution of the monarchy embodied by the Doge for setting bounds for the power that such assemblies were developing. The leading groups of most the towns gathered at the time around the core of the ancient patrician families, creating a new merchant aristocracy with the Serrata del Maggior Consiglio of 1297 and actually took over the power and ousting the popular assembly.
In the name of the Commune, however, it continued to operate the highest representative body of the state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
's sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
– including the Doge, the Minor Council and heads of the Forty – until 1423 with the abolition of the Concione which ended the last residue of municipal institutions, and the supreme body took the name of Serenissima Signoria.