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The dogaressas of Venice (the wives of the doges)

by Edgcumbe Staley (1845–1903)

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  • 6 hours to read
  • 32 chapters

"The dogaressas of Venice (the wives of the doges)" by Edgcumbe Staley is a historical account written in the early 20th century. It explores the roles, influence, ceremonies, and legends of Venice’s first ladies within the broader story of the Republic’s politics, religion, crafts, fashions, and pageantry. The opening of the book sets out the author’s aim to tell, in English, the untold story of the Dogaressas, citing scholarly sources and noting how women shaped Venetian society and patronized its crafts. An introduction evokes Venice as “City of Venus,” “City of Saints,” and “City of Fair Women,” moving from a mythic sea-born origin to a fervent catalog of relics and saints, and then to vivid portraits of Venetian women—their beauty, perfumes, hair rituals, and dress. The narrative of the first chapter then turns to early history and legend: invasions by Huns and Longobards, the courage of women defenders, the refugee settlements on the lagoons, and the election of the first Doge at Eraclea. It recounts the first recognized Dogaressa (a Frankish lady, Carola) amid court intrigue, the decisive shift of power to Rialto under Agnello Badoero and his consort Elena, the building of foundations, bridges, and the first Ducal Palace, the arrival of St. Mark’s relics, and the emergence of civic customs—betrothal rites, the red-rose “boccola,” and the Festa delle Marie born from the dramatic rescue of kidnapped brides—before leading into the troubled rise of Pietro Candiano IV.

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  • Venice (Italy) · Social life and customs
  • Venice (Italy) · Dogaressas

Read the opening

Chapter I

“To the Lagunes!”—“To the Lagunes!”—“Attila Australis plaga!”—“Attila Flagello di Dio!”—these were the despairing cries of panic-stricken people in dire distress.

Ominous sounds came hustling over ragged peaks, and through dense forests from the lofty snow-fields of the distant Alps; and, like the storm-borne scum of tempestuous seas,—leaping and hissing,—they tore along the hurrying torrents. Sweeping wildly over rippling lake and rolling plain the warning cry re-echoes across the ruffled waters of the salt marshes, and strikes terror in hearts of oak and pales brows of bronze.

The heavy tread of barbarian hordes, their savage oaths, and the clashing of their rude weapons, rush upon the wings of the tramontana, as underfoot they trample the fertile lands of Gallia Togata on their way to Rome.

The dreaded Huns are upon the prosperous Græco-Roman cities of Veneto, with their noble civilisation, their graceful villas and gardens, their well-equipped baths and theatres, their imperial palaces, their arsenals, and their mints. “Splendid Veneto,” as Cassiodorus, the Emperor Maximus’ famous minister of art and literature, in startled admiration, calls the province,—is doomed to destruction.

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Contents

Show all 32 chapters
  1. Preface
  2. Introduction
  3. Chapter I
  4. Chapter II
  5. Chapter III
  6. Chapter I
  7. Chapter II
  8. Chapter III
  9. Chapter IV
  10. Chapter I
  11. Chapter II
  12. Chapter III
  13. Chapter IV
  14. Chapter I
  15. Chapter II
  16. Chapter III
  17. Chapter I
  18. Chapter II
  19. Chapter III
  20. Chapter I
  21. Chapter II
  22. Chapter III
  23. Chapter I
  24. Chapter II
  25. Chapter III
  26. Chapter IV
  27. Chapter I
  28. Chapter II
  29. Chapter C: Calmo, Andrea, (Historian), 210
  30. Chapter I: Ideal Wives, 150
  31. Chapter L: “La Beata,” Story of, 122–124
  32. Chapter V

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About this edition

This free edition of The dogaressas of Venice (the wives of the doges) by Edgcumbe Staley comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #78047, released 2026-02-26. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer.

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