The dogaressa of Venice, 1200-1500 : wife and icon

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. "'Dogaressa' was the title given to the wife of the elected leader (doge) in late medieval Venice. This study traces the evolution of the ducal consort's public identity and the limitations placed upon her during Venice's development into an international economic and political power. The book examines the challenges of female proximity to and interaction with Venice's unique and male-dominated political system and considers the tensions between the state, family, and gender that met in the person of the ducal consort. Consideration of this unique female office in the context of other political consorts and their civic functions enhances historical understanding of women, family, and gendered political environments in late medieval Italy."--Jacket Annotation 'Dogaressa' was the title given the wife of the elected leader (doge) in late medieval Venice. This study traces the evolution of the ducal consort's public identity and the limitations placed upon her during Venice's development into an international economic and political power. The book examines the challenges of female proximity to and interaction with Venice's unique and male-dominated political system and considers the tensions between the state, family and gender that met in the person of the ducal consort. Consideration of this unique female office in the context of other political consorts and their civic functions enhances historical understanding of women, family and gendered political environments in late medieval Italy Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-14 Legislating the Dogaressa....Pages 15-43 Introducing the Dogaressa....Pages 44-80 The Dogaressa’s Office....Pages 81-121 Death and the Dogaressa....Pages 122-155 Recalling the Dogaressa....Pages 156-178 Epilogue: The End of an Era....Pages 179-187 Back Matter....Pages 188-304