Italy / Venice: Pietro Loredano, Doge of Venice (1567–1570)

The Doge of Venice (derived from Latin dux, 'leader'), often mistranslated Duke (the Italian word for duke is 'Duca') was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city.

Contrary to popular belief the doge was not a duke in the modern sense, nor was a doge the equivalent of a hereditary duke. The doge was the senior-most elected official of Venice and Genoa; both cities were republics and elected doges. A doge was referred to variously by the titles 'My Lord the Doge' (Monsignor el Doxe), 'Most Serene Prince' (Serenissimo Principe), and 'His Serenity' (Sua Serenità).

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