The Foundation of Venice

The city of Venice, founded in A.D. 421, owes its origin to a panic produced by the invasion of Italy by Attila the Hun, called the "Sword of Mars."

Many inhabitants of the cities bordering on the Adriatic fled before the barbarians to the islands in the Lagoon: these islands, seventy-two in number, united in time by four hundred bridges, became the city and state of Venice.

For eleven hundred years the colony thus formed was governed by a series of dukes, or doges. The order of doges lasted from 697 to 1797: previous to this the government had been for three hundred years republican in form.

For four hundred years Venice was the finest city in Europe. Its glory began with the Crusades in the twelfth century. Her position, favorable to commerce, led to ship-building; and the hire of these ships filled her coffers with gold. She became a great mart of commerce and traffic. Venetian ships transported the Crusaders to the Holy Land, and brought back the spices and jewels of the East, and the spoils of conquered cities.

The manufacturers of Venice soon became famous, and the silk and glass of Venice were unrivalled. The commerce of Venice, which had been the well-spring of prosperity, began to decline after Vasco de Gama's discovery, in 1497, of an ocean route to India.

In 1508 the League of Cambray (q.v.) was formed against the island city by the Pope, the Emperor of Germany, and the kings of France and Spain; and Venice suffered a defeat from which she never recovered. In 1796 Napoleon issued a declaration to the effect that the Venetian Republic had ceased to exist. In 1866 Venice was finally annexed to the kingdom of Italy.

Venice has added to art, science, and literature many notable names. We can never be ungrateful to the city which has given to the world a Titian, a Bellini, and a Tintoretto, a Marco Polo and a Friar Paul, an Aldus Manutius, a Goldini, and a Canova. No city in the world has so inspired the poet's muse. Read in this connection Byron's "Ode to Venice," also Canto IV. in "Childe Harold," Rogers's "Brides of Venice," Shakspeare's "Rialto," Ruskin's "Stones of Venice," and for full information, Adam's "Queen of the Adriatic, or, Venice Past and Present." In this book, see "Customs of Ancient Venice."