Great Council
Quick Summary
The Great Council was a Venetian political organization that emerged around the 12th century as Venice reorganized itself into a republic. Initially, the Great Council of 45 members held all political and administrative power, with a Minor Council of six members exercising executive functions alongside the doge. Over time, its membership expanded, and its functions evolved. By the late 13th century, laws were enacted that restricted participation in government to families with a history of magistrate duties, legally establishing the patrician class and solidifying the Great Council's role as the primary governing body. This structure aimed to prevent the concentration of power and ensure stability within the Venetian state.12
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ItalyVenice in the 14th century…in February 1297, when the Great Council, in which sovereignty resided, was expanded to take in more than 1,000 members. From that time forward, and in particular from the 1320s, admission to that body became more difficult, and from the 1390s it ceased altogether. What has been traditionally described as…
Read More…in February 1297, when the Great Council, in which sovereignty resided, was expanded to take in more than 1,000 members. From that time forward, and in particular from the 1320s, admission to that body became more difficult, and from the 1390s it ceased altogether. What has been traditionally described as…
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VeniceThe commune of Venice…in the hands of the Great Council of 45. A Minor Council of six members exercised executive powers alongside the doge, and magistrates were granted administrative and judicial functions.
Read More…in the hands of the Great Council of 45. A Minor Council of six members exercised executive powers alongside the doge, and magistrates were granted administrative and judicial functions.
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