The Signoria of Venice (''Serenissima Signoria'') was the supreme body of government of the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia ...

. The older Commune of Venice was replaced by the Signoria from 1423 on, being later officially adopted in the ''

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 Do ...

'' by Cristoforo Moro (12 May 1462). It constituted a center of power which included the doge's power. The Signoria can be thought of as the combination of the Doge and the other persons commissioned to collaborate and to rule with him. With the passage of time these functionaries became copartners.

The members of the Signoria of Venice

The Signoria of Venice consisted of: * the

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 ...

, head of the Republic * the

Minor Council 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 ...

(''Minor Consiglio''), created in 1175, which was composed of the Doge's 6 advisors. * the 3 leaders of the Quarantia, the supreme tribunal, created in 1179. The Doge (from Latin ''dux'' "leader") was the chief magistrate in the republics of Venice (until 1797) and Genoa (until 1805). The Signoria was considered a very important body of government, more important than the Doge himself. The sentence ''se l'è morto el Doge, non-l'è morta la Signoria'' (The Doge is dead, but not the Signoria) was ritually said during the ceremonies set for the death of the Doge.

References

Bibliography

* Government of the Republic of Venice {{Italy-hist-stub

The members of the Signoria of Venice

See also

References

Bibliography