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 Greece—notably Istria, Dalmatia, the Ionian Islands, the Peloponnese, Crete, the Cyclades, Euboea, and Cyprus.Map of Venetian forts & presence in the Stato da Mar of southern Balkans
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 Podestà 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 1388–1394, 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 —Cres, Rab, Pag, Zadar, Vrana and Novigrad— for 100,000 ducats.
In 1489, Venice also acquired Cyprus, which it kept until Ottoman conquest in 1570–1571. 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 Ottoman–Venetian 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
Venetian Istria: Trieste, 1283–1287, 1368–1372 and 1508–1509 Muja/Muggia, 1420–1797 Koper (Capodistria), 1145–1797 Izola (Isola), 1145–1797 Piran (Piràn/Pirano), 1283–1797 Umag (Umago), 1269–1797 Motovun (Montona d'Istria), 1278–1797 Novigrad (Cittanova d'Istria), 1270–1797 Poreč (Parenso), 1267–1797 Rovinj (Rovinjo), 1283–1797 Sveti Lovreč (San Lorenso del Paxenadego/San Lorenzo del Pasenatico), 1271–1797 Bale (Vale/Valle d'Istria), 1331–1797 Vodnjan (Dignano), 1330–1797 Pula (Poła), 1145–1291 and 1331–1797 Labin (Albona) and Plomin (Fianona), 1420–1797 Pazin (Pisino), 1508–1509 Kvarner Gulf (Quarnaro): Rijeka (Fiume), 1508–1509 Cres (Cherso) and Lošinj islands (Lusin/Osero), 15C–1797 except brief Ottoman occupation of Cres during the Cretan War (1645–1669) Krk Island (Vegia/Veglia), 1480–1797 except brief Ottoman occupation during the Cretan War (1645–1669) Rab Island (Arbe), 1409–1797 Pag Island (Pago), 1420–1797 except brief Ottoman occupation during the Cretan War (1645–1669) Novigrad (Novegradi), 1409–1797 except Ottoman occupation in 1646–1647 Nin (Nona), 1328–1358 and 1409–1797 Zadar (Zara), 998–1186, 1202–1358 and 1409–1797 Biograd (Zaravecia after 1204), early 11C, 1115–1124, 1125, 1409–1797 Vrana (Aurana or Laurana Arauzona), 1409–1538, 1647 and 1683–1797 Ugljan Island (Ugliano) and Dugi Island (Isola Lunga or Isola Grossa), 13C–1358 and 1409–1797 Šibenik (Sebenego/Sebenico), 1116–1133, 1322–1358 and 1412–1797 Trogir (Traù), 1125–1133 and 1420–1797 Split (Spàlato), 998–1019, 1116–1117, 1118–1124, 1127–1141 and 1420–1797 Fortress of Klis (Clissa), 1648–1797 Omiš (Almissa), 1444–1797 Vis Island (Lissa), ca. 1409–1797 Brač Island (Brasa), 1268–1358 and 1420–1797 Makarska (Macarsca), 13C–1326 and 1646–1797 Hvar Island (Łexina/Lesina), 1331–1358 and 1409–1797 Korčula Island (Curzola), 1255–1358 and 1409–1797 Dalmatian Hinterland, mostly conquered during the Morean War: Obrovac (Obrovazzo), Benkovac (Bencovazzo), Skradin (Scardona), Vrlika (Verlicca) and Sinj (Signo), 1686–1797 Knin (Tenin), 1647 and 1688–1797 Imotski (Imoschi), 1717–1797 Vrgorac (Vergoraz/Vergorazzo), 1690–1797 Metković (Porto Narenta), 1685–1797 Dubrovnik (Raguxa/Ragusa), 1000–1030 and 1205–1358
In today's Montenegro and Albania
Herceg Novi (Castelnuovo), 1687–1797 Risan (Risano), 1688–1797 Kotor (Càtaro/Cattaro) and Perast (Perasto), 1420–1797 Sveti Stefan (Santo Stefano), 1423–1797 Budva (Budua) and Sutomore (Spizza), 1420–1797 Bar (Antivari), 1443–1571 Ulcinj (Dulcigno), 1405–1571 Shkodër (Scutari), 1396–1479 Drisht (Drivasto), 1393–1423 and 1442–1478 Lezhë (Alessio), 1386–1478 and 1501–1506 Durrës (Durazo/Durazzo), 1205–1213 and 1392–1501 Krujë (Kruja), 1388–1392, 1393–1394, 1403–1415 Sati (Satti) and Danjë (Dagno), 1403–1413 Vlorë (Valona) and Kaninë Castle (Canina), 1690–1691 Butrint (Butrinto), 1350 and 1386–1797
In today's Southern Italy (Venetian Apulian ports)
Trani, 1496–1509 Mola di Bari and Polignano a Mare, 1495–1509 and 1528–1530 Monopoli, 1484–1509 and 1528–1530 Brindisi and Otranto, 1496–1509 Gallipoli, 1484
In modern Greece, Cyprus, or Aegean islands
Kerkyra (Corfù) and Paxi Island (Passo), 1207–1214 and 1386–1797 Parga (Parga), 1401–1797 with several brief Ottoman occupations Preveza (Prevesa), 1401–1463, 1684–1699, 1717–1797 Arta (Arta), 1717–1797 Vonitsa (Vonizza), 1684–1797 Lefkada Island (Santa Maura), 1684–1797 Cephalonia (Cefalonia), 1500–1797 Ithaca (Itaca), 1503–1797 Zakynthos (Zante), 1479–1797 Nafpaktos (Lepanto), 1390 and 1407–1499 Amfissa (Salona), 1687–1697 Peloponnese (Morea): various outposts until Ottoman conquest in the 15th-16th centuries, then region–wide Venetian rule 1688–1715 as Realm of the Morea Patras (Patraso/Patrasso), 1408–1430 and 1687–1715 Pylos (Navarino), 1417–1501 and 1686–1715 Methoni (Modon/Modone), 1207–1500 and 1686–1715 Koroni (Coron/Corone), 1207–1500 and 1685–1715 Mani Peninsula (Braccio della Maina), 1487–1499 Monemvasia (Malvasia), 1464–1540 and 1690–1715 Argos (Argo), 1394–1462 and 1687–1715 Nafplio (Napoli di Romània), 1388–1540 and 1686–1715 Kythira (Cerigo) and Antikythera Island (Cerigotto), 1238–1715 and 1718–1797 Crete, known to Venice as the Realm of Candia: Chania (La Canea), ca. 1210–1263 and 1285–1645 Rethymno (Retimo), ca. 1210–1646 Sitia (Sitia), ca. 1210–1651 Heraklion (Candia), ca. 1210–1669 Gramvousa (Grabusa), ca. 1210–1691 Souda Islet (Suda) and Spinalonga Island (Spinalonga), ca. 1210–1715 In the Dodecanese: Karpathos (Scarpanto) and Kasos (Caso), 1306–1538 Halki (Calchi), 1204–? Tilos (Piscopi) Kalymnos (Calimno), 1207–1310 Leros (Lero), 13th century–1309 Patmos (Patmo), 1659–1669 Astypalaia (Stampalia), 1207–1522 and 1648–1668 the Cyclades, most of which Venice held as the Duchy of the Archipelago: Syros (Siro), 1207–1522 Paros (Paro), Antiparos (Antiparo) and Mykonos (Micono), 1207–1537 Naxos (Nasso), Milos (Milo), Folegandros (Policandro), Andros (Andro), Ios (Io), Amorgos (Amorgo), Kimolos (Argentiera), Sikinos (Sicandro), 1207–1566 Santorini (Santorini), 1207–ca. 1280 and 1301–1576 Kythnos (Citno) and Sifnos (Sifanto), 1207–1617 Tinos (Tino), 1207–1715 Saronic Islands: Spetses (Velvina or Spezia), 1220–1460 Hydra (Idra), 1204–1566 Poros, together with (on the mainland) Methana, Troezen (Damala) and Epidaurus (Epidauro), 1484–1715 Aegina (Egina), 1451–1537 Athens (Atene), 1394–1403 and 1687–1688 Euboea (Negroponte), 1205/1216–1470 Pteleos, 1322–1470 the Sporades including Skiathos (Sciato), Skopelos (Scopelo), Alonnisos (Alonneso) and Skyros (Sciro), 1207–1270s and 1453–1538 Lemnos (Lemno), 1207–1278 (as Grand Duchy of Lemnos), 1464–1479 and 1656–1657 Samothrace (Samotracia), 1204–1355 Thessaloniki (Salonico/Salonicco), 1423–1430 Gelibolu Peninsula (Gallipoli) and Tekirdağ (Rodosto), 1204–1235 Beyoğlu (Pera) neighborhood in Constantinople, 1204–1261 Mendenitsa (Bodonitsa), 1335–1414 Gökçeada (Imbro), 1377–1462 Bozcaada (Tenedo), 1377–1381, ?–1455 and 1656–1657 Cyprus (Sipro/Cipro), 1489–1570 Famagusta (Famagosta), 1489–1571
In today's Russia Tanais (Tana), 13C–1332
See also Venetian navy Savi agli Ordini Provveditore Generale da Mar Captain General of the Sea Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar Genoese colonies
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