A Crisis of Venetian Proportions

The Consiglio dei Dieci was angry. Very angry.

For months they had let orders from the Serenissima Signoria go by unchallenged. The raising of a 400 galley fleet raised alarms for its cost, inefficiency, and impracticality, but it was justified as needed to protect the republic. The spending of tens of thousands of ducats on useless "colonial endeavors" that could only result in more lost funds, a moneysink of a territory, and resentment from the Burghers caused anger, but was justified as a solid investment. The selling of Cyprus, rightful Venetian land, to fuel this pipe dream caused outcries, but was silenced through trust in the Doge. Even the ceding of Venetian territory to the Austrians and even the Milanese was eventually tolerated as a necessity of conflict.

But the fleet had remained docked, draining the treasury while sitting unused. These "colonial endeavors" promise no return of investment by the Burghers, and have only further decreased the funds of the Republic. And the loss of territory has not been offset by any gains in trade or access, with Venice simply shrinking on the world stage. This has led to a treasury with virtually no cash, and on the brink of bankruptcy.

And even if all of this could be forgiven, this perfidious doge has gone one step too far.

The Consiglio dei Dieci could hardly believe what they read. The Serenissima Signoria has announced that it will be "centralizing the power of the Republic," increasing the power of the Doge at the expense of every other branch of government! Furthermore, they wanted to let the Doge choose his own successor again - something that has been illegal in the Republic for over three centuries!

"This is negligence! This is illegal!"

"No. This is treason."

So, in the first of a series of unprecedented actions, the Consiglio dei Dieci assembled a session without the Serenissima Signoria, and invited every sitting senator to discuss a solution. One that would prevent another power-hungry Doge from threatening the republic with pipe dreams and delusions of grandeur ever again.

The next day, an announcement was made known throughout the sestieri - there were changes being made in the Venetian government:

• All ten members of the Serenissima Signoria - the Minor Consiglio, the three leaders of the Consiglio di Quarentia, and the Doge himself - were to be removed from their posts, effective immediately. Each would be tried for treason, with the Doge being charged with crimes against the state from abuse of power to misappropriation of funds without authorization, and the rest being charged with treasonous negligence in stopping this. Any found guilty would have their names and their family names stricken from the Golden Book, preventing their families from engaging in Venetian politics ever again

• The office of the Doge was to be relieved of much of its power, becoming more of a ceremonial position. It would still be elected by the Maggior Consiglio, and be seen as representative of the Republic, but his actual authority as head of government would be virtually nonexistent

• The term limits on the Consigliari Ducali, who make up the Minor Consiglio are to be extended to 16 months, and can now serve up to a maximum of six years consecutively before needing to step down. However, any member could now be removed by a vote of no-confidence with a simple majority at any time, and therefore would be held much more to the Maggior Consiglio and Consiglio dei Dieci

• The Maggior Consiglio will immediately elect a new Doge and Consiglieri Ducali

• The Consiglio di Quarantia will immediately elect new leadership

• A new position was to be created - the Signoria Suprema - who is elected by and among the members of the Serenissima Signoria for a two-year term, and who is unable to serve a second term consecutively. The Serenissima Signoria may not sit on the Consiglio di Quarantia, and so must either refuse the position upon their election, or step down from his position on the judiciary. This position is to take much of the power of the old Office of the Doge, becoming the de facto head of state, but must directly answer to the Serenissima Signoria. The Signoria Suprema may be removed at any time by a supermajority vote of no confidence by the rest of the Serenissima Signoria

In addition, some drastic actions were to be taken by the Consiglio dei Dieci:

• The majority of the Venetian Navy is to be disbanded, leaving only 50 Galleys and 9 Galleons as a standing navy. The rest of the ships are to be refitted for mercantile use and distributed among the most loyal members of the Burgher class

• All funding activity to any "colonial ventures" and any associated projects are henceforth discontinued

• All spending not essential to either the continued function of the Venetian government or the defense of the Republic is to be barred for a year to allow the treasury to replenish

• Henceforth, unless in times of urgent national disaster or times of war, the treasury must maintain a minimum balance of 86,750 ducats

It was hoped that these reforms could help steer the Republic back on course, and help reverse the decline she had been in for so long.