This book focuses on the identity and public personae of the dogaressa, wives of the elected doges of medieval and early modern Venice. The study traces the evolution of the public functions of the group of quasi-royal wives, rare for their visibility, during Venice's development into a regional economic and political power.
Chapters one and two examine legislative and ceremonial "rebirths" - the moments when, via the ducal oath of office and a formal entrance ritual, the noble, elite wife of the doge, became the dogaressa, a state symbol. Chapters three and four examines the tenure of the dogaressa,placing her within the public and ceremonial life of the Venetian republic. Chapter five will present two cases studies of wives of the doges Falier and Foscari.
Whilst a full scale comparison of influential women in medieval Italy is beyond the scope of this work, brief comparisons with mainland female counterparts to the dogaressa conclude several of the chapters contained within this text.
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