The Forgotten DOGE Of Venice
Most of us associate Elon Musk’s DOGE with the cybercurrency he loved to champion — the DOGE coin, featuring the sneering Shiba Inu puppy from Japan, shown here:
But the term “doge” is much older, and actually originated in the historical society of Venice. There, at the heart of Europe’s most powerful trading community — controlling the spice and silk routes into Asia — the “doge” served as the magistrate and military ruler who oversaw the security interests of the ruling families.
A doge was in place from A.D. 726 A.D. until A.D. 1797, when the last doge abdicated following Napoleon Bonaparte’s conquest of Venice. This was not a hereditary position, but an elected one, involving considerable politicking.
At least one doge attempted a palace coup against the Venetian nobility. Others have stirred considerable historical debate. Most have been forgotten. Here’s a brief summary on the position from JL History.
