Editing Veneto (section)

===Venetian Republic===
{{Main|Republic of Venice|History of the Republic of Venice}}

[[File:Il Ritorno del Bucintoro al molo nel giorno dell'Ascensione (c.1738) Canaletto - Wells-Next-The-Sea, The Earl of Leicester and Trustees of the Holkham Estate.jpg|thumb|An 18th-century view of [[Venice]] by [[Canaletto]].]]
As the barbarians were interested in the wealth of the mainland, part of the Venetian population sought refuge on some of the isolated and unoccupied islands in the lagoon, from which the city of ''Venetiae'' or [[Venice]] was born. After a period of [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] domination in 8th century, [[Venice]] became an independent maritime [[Republic of Venice|Republic]] ruled by its elected [[Doge (title)|doge]].

The Republic became a commercial superpower and its influence lasted through the [[Middle Ages]] and the [[Renaissance]]. In fact, the [[Republic of Venice|Venetian Republic]] enjoyed 1100 years of uninterrupted influence throughout the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. By the 16th century, the Venetian Republic dominated Veneto, [[Friuli]], parts of [[Lombardy]] and [[Romagna]], [[Istria]], [[Dalmatia]], the [[Ionian Islands]] of Corfu, Cefalonia, Ithaca and Zante. From the 13th to 17th centuries, it held the island of [[Crete]] and from the mid-15th to mid-16th century, the island of [[Cyprus]].

Venetian mainland holdings led to Venetian involvement in European and in particular, Italian politics. Cities had to be fortified, two impressive examples are Nafplio in Peloponnese and [[Palmanova]] in Friuli. The wise rule and prosperity brought by the "Serenissima" (most serene republic) made the cities of the ''terra firma'' willing subjects. Eastern Islands served as useful ports for Venetian shipping. However, as the [[Ottoman Empire]] grew more powerful and aggressive, Venice was often put on the defensive. Ottoman control of the eastern Mediterranean and the discoveries of sea routes to Asia around Africa and of the [[Americas]] had a debilitating effect on the Venetian economy.

In 1797, [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] invaded the territory of the [[Republic of Venice|Venetian Republic]]. Overwhelmed by more powerful forces, [[Doge of Venice|Doge]] [[Ludovico Manin]] resigned and retired to his villa at [[Passariano]] in Friuli and the thousand year old Republic disappeared as an [[Sovereign state|independent state]]. This proved very unpopular in the mainland cities where sympathies were strong with the Republic of Venice. By the [[Treaty of Campo Formio|Treaty of Campoformio]] signed on 17 October 1797, part of the Venetian mainland was handed over to [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis II]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and a western part was annexed to the French backed [[Cisalpine Republic]]. The territory soon reverted to Napoleon in 1801.