The Stato da Màr or Domini da Mar (), sometimes described as a maritime empire or overseas empire, comprised the maritime and overseas territories controlled by the Republic of Venice from approximately 1000 until 1797. At various points, these territories included parts of present-day Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and GreeceâÂÂnotably Istria, Dalmatia, the Ionian Islands, the Peloponnese, Crete, the Cyclades, Euboea, and Cyprus.
It was one of the three subdivisions of the Republic of Venice's possessions, the other two being the Dogado, i.e. Venice proper, and the Domini di Terraferma in northern Italy.
The overseas possessions, particularly islands such as Corfu, Crete, and Cyprus, played a critical role in Venice's commercial and military leadership. In his landmark study on the Mediterranean world in the 16th century, historian Fernand Braudel described these islands as "Venice's motionless fleet".
History
The creation of Venice's overseas empire began around the year 1000 with the defeat of the Narentines by Doge Pietro II Orseolo and recognition of Venetian rule by Dalmatian city-states, allowing the Doge to call himself "Duke of Dalmatia" for the next few decades. Control over the latter, however, would not be stabilized until the early 15th century. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Venice gradually established its rule over Istria, which lasted until the end of the Republic.
Venice's overseas domains reached its greatest nominal extent at the conclusion of the Fourth Crusade in 1204, with declaration of the acquisition of three octaves of the Byzantine Empire. However, most of this territory was never controlled by Venice, being held by the Greek Byzantine successor states, namely the Despotate of Epirus and especially the Empire of Nicaea. Venice remained an important player in Constantinople, holding the key position of PodestÃÂ until its Byzantine reconquest in 1261, and more broadly in the region during the politically complex period known as the Frankokratia. Of its Fourth Crusade acquisitions, it kept Euboea until the 15th century, the Cyclades until the 16th, and Crete until the 17th.
The aftermath of the War of Chioggia in the late 14th century saw another period of rapid growth of the Venetian empire. Corfu came under permanent Venetian rule in 1386, Argos and Nauplia in 1388âÂÂ1394, the Adriatic ports of Durazzo and Alessio on the Albanian coast in 1392, followed by Scutari in 1396 and Drivasto in 1397. In 1402, the Battle of Ankara temporarily reversed the rise of the Ottoman Empire in the east, and the death of Duke of Milan Giangaleazzo Visconti created a power vacuum in northern Italy that enabled expansion of the Domini di Terraferma. The changed climate created by the Ottoman Interregnum and the ensuing Treaty of Gallipoli in 1403 led to a growth of commerce and the acquisition of a new string of fortresses in Greece: Lepanto in 1407, Patras in 1408, Navarino in 1410, and temporarily Thessalonica in 1423. In Dalmatia, where Venice had been forced to cede its possessions to the Kingdom of Hungary by the Treaty of Zadar (1358), it took advantage of the conflict between Ladislaus of Naples and Sigismund over the Hungarian Crown, and in 1409 secured the cession by Ladislaus of several of his Dalmatian domains âÂÂCres, Rab, Pag, Zadar, Vrana and Novigradâ for 100,000 ducats.
In 1489, Venice also acquired Cyprus, which it kept until Ottoman conquest in 1570âÂÂ1571. The Venetian hold over navigation in the Adriatic Sea was maintained for centuries, to the extent that it was labeled "Mare di Venezia" (sea of Venice) on maps of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. From the 15th century onwards, the history of Venice's overseas empire is dominated by successive OttomanâÂÂVenetian wars. Venice lost many territories but also occasionally gained some, most notably the Peloponnese from the late 1680s to 1715 and the Dalmatian Hinterland also in the 1680s. After that date, the remaining overseas domains, kept until the Fall of the Republic of Venice to Napoleon I in 1797, were all in Istria, Dalmatia, and the Ionian Islands, with none left east of Kythira and Antikythera.
Domains
The locations are listed broadly from closest to farthest from Venice. Where there is a difference between the name in Venetian language and standard Italian, the Venetian version is indicated first. Feudal lordships held by Venetians, such as Andrea Ghisi in Tinos and Mykonos, are included.
In today's northeastern Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia
* Trieste, 1283âÂÂ1287, 1368âÂÂ1372 and 1508âÂÂ1509
* Muja/Muggia, 1420âÂÂ1797
* Koper (Capodistria), 1145âÂÂ1797
* Izola (Isola), 1145âÂÂ1797
* Piran (Piràn/Pirano), 1283âÂÂ1797
* Umag (Umago), 1269âÂÂ1797
* Motovun (Montona d'Istria), 1278âÂÂ1797
* Novigrad (Cittanova d'Istria), 1270âÂÂ1797
* Poreà(Parenso), 1267âÂÂ1797
* Rovinj (Rovinjo), 1283âÂÂ1797
* Sveti Lovreà(San Lorenso del Paxenadego/San Lorenzo del Pasenatico), 1271âÂÂ1797
* Bale (Vale/Valle d'Istria), 1331âÂÂ1797
* Vodnjan (Dignano), 1330âÂÂ1797
* Pula (PoÃ
Âa), 1145âÂÂ1291 and 1331âÂÂ1797
* Labin (Albona) and Plomin (Fianona), 1420âÂÂ1797
* Pazin (Pisino), 1508âÂÂ1509
* Rijeka (Fiume), 1508âÂÂ1509
* Cres (Cherso) and LoÃ
¡inj islands (Lusin/Osero), 15CâÂÂ1797 except brief Ottoman occupation of Cres during the Cretan War (1645âÂÂ1669)
* Krk Island (Vegia/Veglia), 1480âÂÂ1797 except brief Ottoman occupation during the Cretan War (1645âÂÂ1669)
* Rab Island (Arbe), 1409âÂÂ1797
* Pag Island (Pago), 1420âÂÂ1797 except brief Ottoman occupation during the Cretan War (1645âÂÂ1669)
- Novigrad (Novegradi), 1409âÂÂ1797 except Ottoman occupation in 1646âÂÂ1647
- Nin (Nona), 1328âÂÂ1358 and 1409âÂÂ1797
- Zadar (Zara), 998âÂÂ1186, 1202âÂÂ1358 and 1409âÂÂ1797
- Biograd (Zaravecia after 1204), early 11C, 1115âÂÂ1124, 1125, 1409âÂÂ1797
- Vrana (Aurana or Laurana Arauzona), 1409âÂÂ1538, 1647 and 1683âÂÂ1797
- Ugljan Island (Ugliano) and Dugi Island (Isola Lunga or Isola Grossa), 13CâÂÂ1358 and 1409âÂÂ1797
- Ã
 ibenik (Sebenego/Sebenico), 1116âÂÂ1133, 1322âÂÂ1358 and 1412âÂÂ1797
- Trogir (Traù), 1125âÂÂ1133 and 1420âÂÂ1797
- Split (Spàlato), 998âÂÂ1019, 1116âÂÂ1117, 1118âÂÂ1124, 1127âÂÂ1141 and 1420âÂÂ1797
* Fortress of Klis (Clissa), 1648âÂÂ1797
* Obrovac (Obrovazzo), Benkovac (Bencovazzo), Skradin (Scardona), Vrlika (Verlicca) and Sinj (Signo), 1686âÂÂ1797
* Knin (Tenin), 1647 and 1688âÂÂ1797
* Imotski (Imoschi), 1717âÂÂ1797
* Vrgorac (Vergoraz/Vergorazzo), 1690âÂÂ1797
* Metkovià(Porto Narenta), 1685âÂÂ1797
- Dubrovnik (Raguxa/Ragusa), 1000âÂÂ1030 and 1205âÂÂ1358
In today's Montenegro and Albania
- Herceg Novi (Castelnuovo), 1687âÂÂ1797
- Risan (Risano), 1688âÂÂ1797
- Kotor (Càtaro/Cattaro) and Perast (Perasto), 1420âÂÂ1797
- Sveti Stefan (Santo Stefano), 1423âÂÂ1797
- Budva (Budua) and Sutomore (Spizza), 1420âÂÂ1797
- Bar (Antivari), 1443âÂÂ1571
- Ulcinj (Dulcigno), 1405âÂÂ1571
- Shkodër (Scutari), 1396âÂÂ1479
- Drisht (Drivasto), 1393âÂÂ1423 and 1442âÂÂ1478
- Lezhë (Alessio), 1386âÂÂ1478 and 1501âÂÂ1506
- Durrës (Durazo/Durazzo), 1205âÂÂ1213 and 1392âÂÂ1501
- Krujë (Kruja), 1388âÂÂ1392, 1393âÂÂ1394, 1403âÂÂ1415
- Sati (Satti) and Danjë (Dagno), 1403âÂÂ1413
- Vlorë (Valona) and Kaninë Castle (Canina), 1690âÂÂ1691
- Butrint (Butrinto), 1350 and 1386âÂÂ1797
In today's Southern Italy (Venetian Apulian ports)
In modern Greece, Cyprus, or Aegean islands
- Kerkyra (Corfù) and Paxi Island (Passo), 1207âÂÂ1214 and 1386âÂÂ1797
- Parga (Parga), 1401âÂÂ1797 with several brief Ottoman occupations
- Preveza (Prevesa), 1401âÂÂ1463, 1684âÂÂ1699, 1717âÂÂ1797
- Arta (Arta), 1717âÂÂ1797
- Vonitsa (Vonizza), 1684âÂÂ1797
- Lefkada Island (Santa Maura), 1684âÂÂ1797
- Cephalonia (Cefalonia), 1500âÂÂ1797
- Ithaca (Itaca), 1503âÂÂ1797
- Zakynthos (Zante), 1479âÂÂ1797
- Nafpaktos (Lepanto), 1390 and 1407âÂÂ1499
- Amfissa (Salona), 1687âÂÂ1697
- Peloponnese (Morea): various outposts until Ottoman conquest in the 15th-16th centuries, then regionâÂÂwide Venetian rule 1688âÂÂ1715 as Realm of the Morea
* Patras (Patraso/Patrasso), 1408âÂÂ1430 and 1687âÂÂ1715
* Pylos (Navarino), 1417âÂÂ1501 and 1686âÂÂ1715
* Methoni (Modon/Modone), 1207âÂÂ1500 and 1686âÂÂ1715
* Koroni (Coron/Corone), 1207âÂÂ1500 and 1685âÂÂ1715
* Mani Peninsula (Braccio della Maina), 1487âÂÂ1499
* Monemvasia (Malvasia), 1464âÂÂ1540 and 1690âÂÂ1715
* Argos (Argo), 1394âÂÂ1462 and 1687âÂÂ1715
* Nafplio (Napoli di Romània), 1388âÂÂ1540 and 1686âÂÂ1715
* Chania (La Canea), ca. 1210âÂÂ1263 and 1285âÂÂ1645
* Rethymno (Retimo), ca. 1210âÂÂ1646
* Sitia (Sitia), ca. 1210âÂÂ1651
* Heraklion (Candia), ca. 1210âÂÂ1669
* Gramvousa (Grabusa), ca. 1210âÂÂ1691
* Souda Islet (Suda) and Spinalonga Island (Spinalonga), ca. 1210âÂÂ1715
* Karpathos (Scarpanto) and Kasos (Caso), 1306âÂÂ1538
* Halki (Calchi), 1204âÂÂ?
* Tilos (Piscopi)
* Kalymnos (Calimno), 1207âÂÂ1310
* Leros (Lero), 13th centuryâÂÂ1309
* Patmos (Patmo), 1659âÂÂ1669
* Astypalaia (Stampalia), 1207âÂÂ1522 and 1648âÂÂ1668
* Syros (Siro), 1207âÂÂ1522
* Paros (Paro), Antiparos (Antiparo) and Mykonos (Micono), 1207âÂÂ1537
* Naxos (Nasso), Milos (Milo), Folegandros (Policandro), Andros (Andro), Ios (Io), Amorgos (Amorgo), Kimolos (Argentiera), Sikinos (Sicandro), 1207âÂÂ1566
* Santorini (Santorini), 1207âÂÂca. 1280 and 1301âÂÂ1576
* Kythnos (Citno) and Sifnos (Sifanto), 1207âÂÂ1617
* Tinos (Tino), 1207âÂÂ1715
* Spetses (Velvina or Spezia), 1220âÂÂ1460
* Hydra (Idra), 1204âÂÂ1566
* Poros, together with (on the mainland) Methana, Troezen (Damala) and Epidaurus (Epidauro), 1484âÂÂ1715
* Aegina (Egina), 1451âÂÂ1537
- Athens (Atene), 1394âÂÂ1403 and 1687âÂÂ1688
- Euboea (Negroponte), 1205/1216âÂÂ1470
* Pteleos, 1322âÂÂ1470
- the Sporades including Skiathos (Sciato), Skopelos (Scopelo), Alonnisos (Alonneso) and Skyros (Sciro), 1207âÂÂ1270s and 1453âÂÂ1538
- Lemnos (Lemno), 1207âÂÂ1278 (as Grand Duchy of Lemnos), 1464âÂÂ1479 and 1656âÂÂ1657
- Samothrace (Samotracia), 1204âÂÂ1355
- Thessaloniki (Salonico/Salonicco), 1423âÂÂ1430
- Gelibolu Peninsula (Gallipoli) and Tekirdaà(Rodosto), 1204âÂÂ1235
- BeyoÃÂlu (Pera) neighborhood in Constantinople, 1204âÂÂ1261
- Mendenitsa (Bodonitsa), 1335âÂÂ1414
- Gökçeada (Imbro), 1377âÂÂ1462
- Bozcaada (Tenedo), 1377âÂÂ1381, ?âÂÂ1455 and 1656âÂÂ1657
- Cyprus (Sipro/Cipro), 1489âÂÂ1570
* Famagusta (Famagosta), 1489âÂÂ1571
In today's Russia
See also
Notes
Bibliography