Vitale Faliero Dodoni (also known as Falier de' Doni) and usually known in English as Vitale Falier was the 32nd Doge of Venice from 1084 until his death in 1095.

Life

He was a member of a noble Venetian family, probably from Fano. A

ducal councillor The Minor Council ( it, Minor Consiglio) or Ducal Council was one of the main constitutional bodies of the Republic of Venice, and served both as advisors and partners to the Doge of Venice, sharing and limiting his authority. Establishment The Mi ...

, he was elected Doge in the revolt that overthrew

Domenico Selvo Domenico Selvo (died 1087) was the 31st Doge of Venice, serving from 1071 to 1084. During his reign as Doge, his domestic policies, the alliances that he forged, and the battles that the Venetian military won and lost laid the foundations for m ...

in December 1084, probably initiated by Faliero himself, among others. He is the first Doge whose image is known, being allegedly portrayed next to the high altar of St. Mark's Basilica. When he became Doge, Venice was supporting the Byzantine Empire in the war against the Normans under

Robert Guiscard Robert Guiscard (; Modern ; – 17 July 1085) was a Norman adventurer remembered for the conquest of southern Italy and Sicily. Robert was born into the Hauteville family in Normandy, went on to become count and then duke of Apulia and Calabri ...

(see

Siege of Durazzo The Battle of Dyrrhachium took place on October 18, 1081 between the Byzantine Empire, led by the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118), and the Normans of southern Italy under Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia and Calabria. The battle was ...

). In the spring of 1095, the Venetian fleet obtained a great naval victory at Butrint (in modern-day Albania) that avenged Selvo's defeat at Corfu. The recovery in the prestige of the city is testified by the visit of

Emperor Henry IV Henry IV (german: Heinrich IV; 11 November 1050 – 7 August 1106) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 to 1105, King of Germany from 1054 to 1105, King of Italy and Burgundy from 1056 to 1105, and Duke of Bavaria from 1052 to 1054. He was the son ...

, to whom it was allied during the Investiture Controversy against the pope, for the consecration of St. Mark's church, the rebuilding of which was completed at this time. During the latter part of his reign the city was hit by an earthquake, a sea storm, and a heavy famine. Faliero died in December 1095. He was married to Cornella Bembo. Staley, Edgcumbe: The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges. London : T. W. Laurie
/ref> His son Ordelafo became a subsequent Doge.

Sources

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faliero, Vitale 11th-century births 1095 deaths Burials at St Mark's Basilica 11th-century Doges of Venice