Benedetto Viale (Genoa, 1660 - Genoa, 1749) was the 144th

Doge A doge ( , ; plural dogi or doges) was an elected lord and head of state in several Italian city-states, notably Venice and Genoa, during the medieval and renaissance periods. Such states are referred to as " crowned republics". Etymology The ...

of the

Republic of Genoa The Republic of Genoa ( lij, Repúbrica de Zêna ; it, Repubblica di Genova; la, Res Publica Ianuensis) was a medieval and early modern maritime republic from the 11th century to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast. During the Lat ...

and king of

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Biography

Born in Genoa around 1660, he held his first public positions as representative of the Republic of Genoa in various European courts: at the

Crown of Aragon The Crown of Aragon ( , ) an, Corona d'Aragón ; ca, Corona d'Aragó, , , ; es, Corona de Aragón ; la, Corona Aragonum . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of B ...

, in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

at the

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, in

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and in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. Back in the Genoese borders, Benedetto Viale was appointed syndicator of the West Riviera in 1696, of the Rota Criminale in 1703 and in the magistrates of the War, of the Cambi and, again, a member of the Inquisitors of State in 1713. Praised and appreciated for his correct use and pronunciation of languages, learned and deepened during his stays as a diplomat in other countries, the Grand Council elected him the new doge of Genoa on 30 September 1717, the ninety-ninth in two-year succession and the one hundred and forty-fourth in republican history. As doge he was also invested with the related biennial office of king of

. A serious drought crisis that affected Genoa and Liguria in the summer of 1718 is mentioned in his Genoese annals. On his express order, for August 2, the Genoese were asked to close every shop and commercial activity, to clean the streets of the city as for the annual ''Corpus Christi'' festival and - as a grace - to go to a solemn religious procession with the ashes of the patron,

John the Baptist John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...

. A few days later a modest amount of water rained from the sky which quenched the fields and the people: the population, cheering, and again for an order given by the doge Benedetto Viale intoned a ''Te Deum'' of thanks. After the mandate ended on September 30, 1719, it is probable that he still held other public offices. He died in Genoa around 1749 where he was buried in the church of San Rocco in Granarolo. From the marriage to Giovanna D'Aste he had one son, Agostino Viale, who in 1750 became doge of the Republic of Genoa.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viale, Benedetto 18th-century Doges of Genoa 1660 births 1749 deaths

Biography

See also

References