The Most Serene Republic of Venice (Venetian: (Serenìsima) Repùblica Vèneta or Repùblica de Venesia, Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia) or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice. It existed for over 1.100 years, from the late 7th century AD until the year 1797. It was the longest Republic in the world. It is often referred to as La Serenissima, in reference to its title in Venetian, the Most Serene Republic.
Unfortunately, today this important Venetian history is not teached in italian schools and its reduced in few lines inside italian class books.
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 The Venets have a documented history from 1500 before Christ, with a refined and industrious civilization. They already had at that time their own language and alphabet; they were great traders and capable on the sea. They managed the "Amber Route" with the Baltic Sea. From the 5th Century b.C. onward they founded and developed cities like Padua, Este, Oderzo, Altino, and many more. Around the 2nd Century b.C. the Venets spontaneously entered the Roman Empire and they remained in it until its fall in the 5th Century AD. According to tradition, the 25th of March 421 Venice was founded, the city of the Venets, and in 697 the first Doge was elected. With time the Venets becamecompletely independent, a maritime and commercial power unique in the world.
San Mark became from the year 828 the symbol and the protector of the Most Serene Republic (the “Serenissima” Republic), represented by the Lion with wings.
In 1297 the Government system is defined in a precise manner, composed of the best men and in the Venet State wide local autonomies were always guaranteed.
This efficient and light system becomes attractive for the whole Venet mainland and many were the examples of territories (the Trevisian Marca in 1338 and Verona in 1405, for example) that demanded to become part of the Venet Republic with the "dedications".
In 1500 the “Serenissima” is owner of the seas and of commerce, so powerful that in 1509 basically all Europe with the "League of Cambrais" gets organized to make war.
The Venets after years of wars at the end they make it out, both because of the military value, and because of the skills of its diplomacy. In 1571 there is the terrible battle of Lepanto, a clash with the Venets in the front row who will save the Christian Europe.
In 1584 Venice founds the first public bank in the world, the banco Giro (Bank of England is founded in 1692).
Besides commerce the venets are triumphant in the arts with painters, sculptors, musicians, playwriters, writers, artisans that will gain international fame.
In 1796 an army led by the general Napoleon Bonaparte arrives at the boundaries of the Republic to attack Austria. The Most Serene declared itself neutral but once entered in its territories Napoleon occupies the main cities and fortresses in betrayal, declaring only later war on the Republic, that finds itself forced to abdicate its legitimate government: it was May 12th 1797.
After a brief French occupation, the Venets are put in submission to the Austrian Empire to return a little later again under Giacobine occupation. In 1814 the Congress of Vienna, a conference of the powers who had destroyed Napoleon, decided not to reestablish the Most Serene Republic but to give the Venet territories to Austria.
From 1797 a serious economic decline begins, consequence of enormous depredation, both economic and artistic. In 1848 there is the revolt of Venice that replocamates the Venet Republic with Daniele Manin, but after a desperate resistance in 1849 it surrenders.
In 1866 the Kingdom of Italy of the Savoy allies itself with powerful Prussia and attacks Austria with the objective to subjugate the Venets. Despite the victories of the Austro-Venet armies both by land (Custoza) as by sea (Lissa), the Veneto becomes occupied by the troups with the Savoy's colors, because of the peace treaties after Austria was defeated by Prussia in the battle of Sadowa. Italy, full of debts even back then, imposes great sacrifices on the Venet population (see taxes on grain) that soon is brought to literally die of hunger. This is how the great Venet migration begins: more than 4 milion Venets since 1866 are forced to abandon their land and their people.
In 1914 World War One bursts out, fought basically only in Venet territories: half of the almost 600,000 deaths were Venets. Not to mention World War Two, where half of the Venet youth was sent to die at the frontier (see for example the Russian expedition).
At war's end the Venets, despite all, from extreme poverty they manage to put up an economic model envied by the whole world, fruit of that urge to do and sense of sacrifice that was always a characteristic of this great People.
Today, despite a thousand problems, from pollution to ill-regulated immigration, and under a foreign state system that tries to erase the Venet identity, the Venet people, reduced to a colony, are anyhow recognized in the whole world for their great history, hard work, solidarity and civility.
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