An Universal Biography, Vol. 2 of 3. Including Scriptural, Classical, and Mythological Memoirs, Together With Accounts of Many Eminent Living Characters (Classic Reprint) 12+

📕 Excerpt from An Universal Biography, Vol. 2 of 3: Including Scriptural, Classical, and Mythological Memoirs, Together With Accounts of Many Eminent Living CharactersThe Venetians, in the sharing of the imperial do minions, obtained a full moiety, and Dandolo was solemnly invested with the title of despot of Roma nia. He ended his life soon after at Constantinople, in 1205, having reached, if there be no mistake in the records, the very uncommon age of ninety-seven. Dandolo (andrew), doge of Venice, and one of its early historians, was born about 1310. He distinguished himself by his knowledge of law, history, and polite literature; and rose first to the office of procurator of St. Mark, and then to that of doge, in 1343. He joined in a league with other Christian powers against the Turks, in consequence of which several bloody battles were fought, mostly favourable to the allies, but at length they received a signal defeat at Smyrna. The Venetians had more success in recovering Zara and Capo d'istria, which had revolted. Various disasters which hap pened to the city about this time, and thinned its inhabitants, were the cause of a decree offering na turalization to all foreigners who should settle in it, by the effect of which the losses were soon repaired. The commerce of Venice likewise received a great extension by a connexion with Egypt, which the doge formed by means of an embassy to the soldan; and the first Venetian ship sailed to Alexandria in 1345. The jealousy c...