they had the right to govern it. One of the lagoons was named Rialto and was declared by the founders to be free and independent of Padua. This spirit of freedom doubled its population and it became a refuge for all those who were seeking to escape the cruelty of the savage Attila. At the same time, the other lagoons, while still under Padua, were able to achieve a certain freedom in matters of trade and commerce, and prospered greatly.
Each of the islands had its own governor. After a while, these islands were able to join together to form a fairly strong state and they were able to shake off their yoke; just as centuries later, the Anglo-Americans freed themselves from their mother-country.
The new Venetians solidified their alliance with each other, and in order to increase their unity declared themselves free from the Pope and the Emperor. They combined their small states into a republic, at the head of which they had a Doge.
Soon these Doges became autocratic, and began to extend their authority to the point that the republic might soon have become a kingdom. In order to combat this, a Council was formed which had the power to overthrow a Doge if he became too much of a despot. It also decreed that the Doge could not name his successor, thus preventing the position from becoming hereditary.
Before Venice had completely declared its independence, it had received from King Berenger II of Italy the right to coin its own money. A cloak of gold had to be paid this King each year for this right. The city was able, however, to leave off this tribute a few years later when there were uprisings in the kingdom. About this time the Doges took the title of Duke of Dalmatia, and little by little the greatness of this new state increased to the point that the seas were covered with its ships during a time when the other nations of Europe, principally Germany, were languishing in the darkness of ignorance and barbarity.
Although the shores of the Rialto were not adorned as today with superb buildings, one found there convenient hostels for the many strangers who came to visit the infant city; the city which already dominated the seas around it. It was in
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