VIII. THE DUCAL PALACE 343

then, and the prisons, being built, the Great Council first sat in their retired chamber on the Rio in the year 1309.

§ 16. Now, observe the significant progress of events. They had no sooner thus established themselves in power than they were disturbed by the conspiracy of the Tiepolos, in the year 1310.¹ In consequence of that conspiracy the Council of Ten was created, still under the Doge Gradenigo; who, having finished his work and left the aristocracy of Venice armed with this terrible power, died in the year 1312, some say by poison. He was succeeded by the Doge Marino Giorgio, who reigned only one year; and then followed the prosperous government of John Soranzo.² There is no mention of any additions to the Ducal Palace during his reign, but he was succeeded by that Francesco Dandolo, the sculptures on whose tomb, still existing in the cloisters of the Salute,³ may be compared by any traveller with those of the Ducal Palace. Of him it is recorded in the Savina Chronicle: “This Doge also had the great gate built which is at the entry of the palace, above which is his statue kneeling, with the gonfalon⁴ in hand, before the feet of the Lion of St. Mark’s.”*

§ 17. It appears, then, that after the Senate had completed their Council Chamber and the prisons, they required a nobler door than that of the old Ziani Palace for their Magnificences to enter by. This door is twice spoken of in the government accounts of expenses, which are fortunately preserved,† in the following terms:-

“1335, June 1. We, Andrew Dandolo and Mark Loredano, procurators of St. Mark’s, have paid to Martin

* “Questo Dose anche fese far la porta granda che se al intrar del Palazzo, in su la qual vi e la sua statua che sta in zenocchioni con lo confalon in man, davanti li pie de lo Lion S. Marco.”-Savin Chronicle, Cod. Ven., p. 120.

† These documents I have not examined myself, being satisfied of the accuracy of Cadorin, from whom I take the passages quoted.

¹ [For this conspiracy, see above, p. 298 n.]

² [Reigned 1312-1329.]

³ [See above, p. 299, and in the next volume, ch. ii. § 58.]

⁴ [For a note on the gonfalon, the pointed ensign of forward battle, see The Bible of Amiens, ch. iv.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]