Dogaressa ( , , ) was the official title of the wife of the

Doge of Venice The Doge of Venice ( ; vec, Doxe de Venexia ; it, Doge di Venezia ; all derived from Latin ', "military leader"), sometimes translated as Duke (compare the Italian '), was the chief magistrate and leader of the Republic of Venice between 726 a ...

. The title was unique for Venice: while the head 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 ...

were also called Doge, the wives of the Doges of Genoa were not called ''Dogaressa'', nor did they have such a public position.

History

The position of the dogaressa was regulated by the laws of the Republic, which specified which duties and rights she had, and what was prohibited for the title holder. These rights changed several times during the history of the Republic. The first bearer of the title was reportedly

Dogaressa Carola Carola ( fl. 811) is the name used by Edgecumbe Staley in his book ''The dogaressas of Venice'' to refer to the Dogaressa of Venice married to Doge Obelerio degli Antenori (r. 804-811). Among many claims, she is sometimes purported to be the first ...

in the 800s, and the last was

Elisabetta Grimani Elisabetta Grimani (died 31 August 1792 in Treviso) was the last Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Ludovico Manin ( 1789–1797). Biography Elisabetta Grimani was the daughter of Antonio Grimani. She married Ludovico Manin on 14 Septembe ...

in the 1790s.

Position

Just like the Doge, the dogaressa was crowned, made a Solemn Entry, and gave a vow of loyalty (''

promissione ducale The ''promissione ducale'' ( la, promissio domini ducis) was an oath of office sworn by the incoming Doge of Venice. It contained not only an oath of allegiance to the Republic of Venice, but also spelled out the constitutional limitations to the D ...

'') to the republic upon her coronation. The symbols of her rank were a golden veil and a crown in a similar shape as that of the doge. Similar to a queen, the dogaressa was provided with a household of ladies-in-waiting. The coronation of the dogaressa was abolished during certain periods, as specified below. Formally, the dogaressa had no political rights whatsoever, and her task was to participate in the representational life of the republic and official ceremonies and rituals designed to personify the glory of the state, and had as such a very visible public role. She was expected to act as the formal protector of certain guilds and trades, and could as such play in important part in the role of this trades within the state, something several dogaressas are known to have done.

Alicia Giustiniani Alicia Giustiniani was the Dogaressa of Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canal ...

, for example, played an important part in Venetian commerce and business because of this role. Though law refused any influence over state affairs to the dogaressa, some wielded a great deal of influence over the affairs of state in practice, most notably

Felicia Cornaro Felicia Cornaro (died 1111) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Vitale I Michiel (). She was politically active and exerted an acknowledged influence over the affairs of state. She was a strong supporter of the First Crusade. Life ...

. When the dogaressa became a widow, she was socially expected to become a nun. However, there was no actual law to require this, and some widowed dogaressas refused to follow this custom, though it was considered scandalous.

Changes in position

During the centuries, the regulations around the dogaressa introduced laws to restrict her rights: in the 13th-century, the dogaressa was banned from receiving dignitaries and make public donations on her own, and in 1342, a law banned her from conducting business affairs of her own. The coronation ceremony of the dogaressa did not occur between that of Taddea Michiel in 1478 and Zilia Dandolo in 1556; after the coronation of

Morosina Morosini Morosina Morosini-Grimani (1545 - January 21, 1614) was a Venetian patrician. She was the Dogaressa of Venice from 1595 to 1606. Life Morosina Morosini-Grimani was the daughter of Andrea Morosini, a wealthy Venetian patrician. She married in 1 ...

in 1597, the coronation of a dogaressa was deemed unnecessary in 1645 and the other ceremonies around her suppressed to a minimum. The last dogaressa to be crowned was

Elisabetta Querini Elisabetta Querini (November 12, 1628 in Venice – January 19, 1709 in Venice) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Silvestro Valier (r. 1694-1700). Querini is described as the only Venetian dogaressa of any significance of t ...

in 1694, after which the ceremony was permanently abolished. After the tenure of Elisabetta Querini, most other ceremonial privileges of the dogaressa was abolished as well: in 1700, she was no longer permitted to wear a crown and receive gifts from dignitaries. In 1763, the Solemn Entry was revived by the wish of the Doge for

Pisana Conaro Pisana Cornaro (died 10 March 1769) was a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo (r. 1763–1779). Pisana Cornaro was the daughter of Federico Cornaro and married 5 October 1739. Upon his election as doge, the spouse d ...

, who was the last dogaressa to perform it.

List of Dogaressas of Venice

* 804-811:

Carola Carola is a female given name, the Latinized form of the Germanic given names Caroline or Carol. People named Carola include: Acting *Carola Braunbock (1924–1978), Czech-born East German actress *Carola Höhn (1910–2005), German actress ...

* 811-827:

Elena Elena may refer to: People * Elena (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name * Joan Ignasi Elena (born 1968), Catalan politician * Francine Elena (born 1986), British poet Geography * Elena (town), a town in Veliko ...

* 827-830: Felicita * 888-912: Angela Sanudo * 942-959:

Arcielda Candiano Arcielda Candiano (fl. 927 - 959) was a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Pietro III Candiano (r. 942 - 959). Her name is sometimes given as Richielda. Life She was possibly the child of a Venetian and one of the Slav women who were bro ...

* 959-966:

Giovanniccia Candiano Giovanniccia Candiano, also called Giuliana, was Dogaressa of Venice by her marriage to the Doge Pietro IV Candiano (r. 959–976) and mother of future doge Vitale Candiano. Giovanniccia was not a member of the aristocracy and was previously ...

* 966-976:

Waldrada of Tuscany Valdrada (Gualdrada) of Tuscany (died 997) was a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Pietro IV Candiano (r. 959-976). Early life She was the daughter of Hubert, Duke of Spoleto, grandfather of Mathilda of Tuscany. She was arranged to be ...

* 976-978:

Felicia Malipiero Felicia Malipiero (d. ''after'' 978) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Pietro I Orseolo (r. 976–978) and mother of doge Pietro II Orseolo. Life Felicia Malipiero is described as very religious and strict, and spent her time in ...

* 979-991: Marina Candiano * 991-1009: Maria Candiano * 1009-1026:

Grimelda of Hungary Grimelda of Hungary was a Hungarian princess and a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to Doge Otto Orseolo (r. 1009—1026). She was the daughter of Géza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians and Princess Sarolt. Grimelda married the Doge Otto Orseolo (r ...

* 1075-1083:

Theodora Doukaina Selvo Theodora Doukaina ( el, Θεοδώρα Δούκαινα) (before 1059– after 1075) was a Byzantine princess and dogaressa. Life Theodora Doukaina was the second daughter of Byzantine emperor Constantine X Dukas by his unknown first wife. After ...

* 1084-1096: Cornella Bembo * 1096-1102:

* 1102-1116: Matelda Falier * 1116-1130: Alicia Michiel * 1148-1156: Sofia * 1156-1172:

Felicita Maria di Boemondo Felicita Maria di Boemondo of Antioch (d. ''after'' 1172) was a Princess of Antioch and the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Vital II Michele (r. 1156–1172). She was the daughter of Bohemund of Antioch. As a dogaressa, Felicita Maria ...

* 1172-1178: Cecilia * 1192-1205: Felicita Bembo * 1205-1229:

Constance of Sicily Constance I ( it, Costanza; 2 November 1154 – 27 November 1198) was reigning Queen of Sicily from 1194–98, jointly with her spouse from 1194 to 1197, and with her infant son Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1198, as the heiress of the ...

* 1229-1240: Maria Storlato * 1242-1249:

Valdrada of Sicily Valdrada of Sicily (died c. 1252) was a Sicilian princess and the Dogaressa, Dogaressa of Venice by her marriage to Doge Jacopo Tiepolo (r. 1229–1249). Born at the very latest in 1194, Valdrada was the youngest child of Tancred, King of Sicil ...

* 1252-1268:

Loicia da Prata Loicia (Aloicia) da Prata or Alucia da Frata (d. ''after'' 1268) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Reniero Zeno Coat of arms of Reniero Zeno Silver Grosso of Doge Raniero Zeno, 1253–1268, Venice. Reniero Zeno ( vec, Renier ...

* 1268-1275: Marchesina Ghisi * 1275-1280: Jacobina * 1280-1289: Caterina * 1289-1310: Tommasina Morosini * 1310-1312: Agnese * 1312-1329: Franchesina * 1329-1339: Elisabetta * 1339-1342: Giustina Cappello * 1342-1354: Francesca Morosini * 1354-1355:

Aluycia Gradenigo Aluycia Gradenigo (died 1385) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Marino Faliero (r. 1354–1355). Aluycia was the daughter of Nicolo Gradenigo and related to doge Pietro Gradenigo. She was known for her beauty and her love lif ...

* 1355-1356: Marina Cappello * 1361-1365: Maria GiustinianHolly S. Hurlburt, The Dogaressa of Venice, 1200-1500: Wife and Icon, New York: Palgrave, Macmillan, 2006, p. 190 * 1365-1367: Caterina Corner * 1382-1382: Cristina Condulmer * 1382-1400: Agnese * 1400-1413:

Marina Galina Marina Galina (died 1420) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Michele Steno His tomb in Venice. Michele Steno (''Michiel Sten'' in Venetian Language; 1331 – December 26, 1413) was a Venetian statesman who served as the 63rd ...

* 1423-1457:

Marina Nani Marina Nani (circa 1400–1473) was a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Francesco Foscari Francesco Foscari (19 June 1373 – 1 November 1457) was the 65th Doge of the Republic of Venice from 1423 to 1457. His reign, the longest of all ...

* 1457-1462:

Giovanna Dandolo Giovanna Dandolo was a dogaressa of Venice by marriage to doge Pasquale Malipiero (reign 1457–1462). She was born circa 1400 as the daughter of Antonio Dandolo and married to Pasquale Malipiero in 1414. She had four children: Lorenzo, Antonio, ...

* 1462-1471:

Cristina Sanudo Cristina Sanudo (circa 1400 – d. after 1471) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Cristoforo Moro (r. 1462–1471). She was the daughter of Leonardo Sanudo and Barbara Memo, and married Cristoforo Moro in 1412. She would have been ...

* 1471-1472:

Aliodea Morosini Aliodea Morosini, called "Dea Moro" (died 1478), was the Dogaressa Dogaressa ( , , ) was the official title of the wife of the Doge of Venice. The title was unique for Venice: while the head of the Republic of Genoa were also called Doge, the w ...

* 1473-1474: Contarina Contarini Morosini * 1474-1476: Laura Zorzi * 1476-1478: Regina Gradenigo * 1478-1485: Taddea Michiel * 1485-1486: Lucia Ruzzini * 1486-1501: Elisabetta Soranzo * 1501-1521: Giustina Giustiniani * 1521-1523:

Caterina Loredan Caterina Loredan of the noble House of Loredan, Loredan family was the Dogaressa of Republic of Venice, Venice from 1521 to 1523 by marriage to Antonio Grimani, Doge Antonio Grimani. Caterina was the sister of the previous Doge of Venice, Leonar ...

* 1523-1538: Benedetta Vendramin * 1538-1545: Maria Pasqualigo * 1545-1553:

* 1556-1559: Zilia Dandolo * 1559-1567: Elena Diedo * 1567-1570: Maria Cappello * 1570-1577:

Loredana Marcello Loredana Marcello (died 12 December 1572) was a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Alvise I Mocenigo (r. 1570-1577). She was an author of letters and poetry and studied botany, and was regarded as a model of an educated and cultivated ren ...

* 1577-1578:

Cecilia Contarini Cecilia Contarini (fl. 1578) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Sebastiano Venier (r. 1577-1578). She married the future doge in 1544. Along with her spouse, she reportedly preferred to avoid ceremony and public life and lived sec ...

* 1578-1585: Arcangela Canali * 1585-1595: Laura Morosini * 1595-1606:

* 1618-1623: Elena Barbarigo * 1625-1629: Chiara Dolfin * 1655-1656: Paolina Loredan * 1656-1656: Andreana Priuli * 1656-1658: Elisabetta Pisani * 1658-1659: Lucia Barbarigo * 1694-1700:

* 1709-1722:

Laura Cornaro Laura Cornaro (died 1739) was the Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Giovanni II Cornaro (r. 1709-1722). Laura Cornaro was born to Nicolo Cornaro and married her cousin Giovanni II Cornaro in 1667. As dogaressa, Laura Cornaro was describ ...

* 1735-1741: Elena Badoer * 1763-1769: Pisana Cornaro * 1771-1779:

Polissena Contarini Da Mula Polissena Contarini Da Mula was a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo (1701–1778) was doge of Venice from 1763 until his death. Political career He restricted the privileges of the cler ...

* 1779-1789:

Margherita Dalmet Giovanna ''Margherita'' Dalmet, also called ''Delmaz'' and ''Dalmaz'' (1739 – 11 January 1817), was a Dogaressa of Venice by marriage to the Doge Paolo Renier (r. 1779–1789). Life Early life Margherita was born in Constantinople as the daugh ...

* 1789-1792:

References

* Staley, Edgcumbe:
The dogaressas of Venice (The wives of the doges)
', London : T. W. Laurie, 1910 {{Republic of Venice topics Noble titles Republic of Venice