Senate of Venice

The Senate of Venice was a central political body during the Venetian Republic, composed primarily of noblemen. It functioned as the governing council responsible for making major decisions on foreign policy, diplomacy, military issues, and economic matters. The Senate guided Venice’s relations with other states, managed trade, and oversaw financial policies, effectively shaping the republic’s stability and expansion from the 12th to the 18th century. Its members were selected based on noble status, and its authority was balanced by other institutions, such as the Great Council and the Council of Ten, forming a complex and relatively stable governance system for Venice.