doge

(formerly) the chief magistrate in the republics of Venice (until 1797) and Genoa (until 1805)

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Doge

the head of the republic of Venice from the late seventh through the 18th centuries and of the republic of Genoa from the 14th through the 18th centuries. In Venice the doge was elected for a life term by the patriciate from among its own ranks through a system of indirect votes, and initially he had great power. After the attempts by some doges to transform their rule into a hereditary seigneury, the Venetian oligarchy gradually (12th-14th centuries) reduced the role of the doge to that of a figurehead. In Genoa the position of lifelong doge was introduced in 1339 but was limited to a term of two years in 1528.

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References in periodicals archive

The Chamber of the Great Council is the largest chamber in the Doge's Palace and also one of the largest rooms in Europe.

Rome beyond: 117 isles, 391 bridges, 150 canals, one gem

Eventually, The Doge's patience wears out and he vows to banish Casanova from the city unless the incorrigible womaniser takes a wife.

CASANOVA(12A)

But eventually The Doge's patience wears out and he vows to banish Casanova from the city unless the incorrigible womaniser takes a wife.

Casanova

Every year the Doge would take part in a symbolic ceremony, the Marriage of the Sea, to celebrate Venice's mastery over the ocean.

TRAVEL: Proud city threatened by a watery grave

Leading the x-ray inspection field, Doge announces the XD6600--XiDAT a groundbreaking Digital X-Ray System with outstanding image resolution.

Witness the difference

I would like to visit the Gug-genheim Museum as I didn't get the chance last time and I would definitely go back to see the Doge's Palace.

My perfect weekend... DI BOTCHER

Another may be its dark, sombre tale of the tragic, heroic title character, the Doge of Venice: a friend of the people, yet hated by the upper class, he is also betrayed by his wife, Elena, who has committed adultery with his nephew, Fernando.

Opera Orchestra of New York. (United States: New York; Opera in Review)

The Doge's Palace is packed with wonderful works of art by Tintoretto and Titian.

Holiday People: Fabulous Venice is heaven scent

The horror felt toward an executioner and his family is skillfully described, but Cooper spoils his social idea by letting the plot develop along absurdly conventional lines--the executioner's son turns out to be really the son of the Doge of Genoa.

Headsman, The (1833)