Instead of nominating the dodge directly, the Great Council nominated 11 electors to choose the dodge and present their choice to the people as a done deal (see Norwich (2003, Chap. 9) for details and Lane (1973, pp. 95101)). The other reform was to increase the number of councillors from two to six. The councillors were also given power to restrain the dodge. The Senate gained power in foreign affairs. Norwich (2003) interprets the effect of these reforms to weaken both the apex and the base of the administrative pyramid while strengthening its center. The choice of the next dodge clearly reflected a change in power towards the financiers of the Republic. Dodge Sebastiano Ziani was one of the wealthiest men in Venice. According to Norwich (2003, Chap. 9), Ziani suspended payment on the new government bonds (fro

It seems there was little resentment, which demonstrates a willingness of the creditors (Venetians themselves) to finance the State under the new dodge. Venice also immediately sued for peace with Byzantium, who refused to accept the terms, so that the consolidation of the new regime

The political reform in Venice of 1172 can be best understood in light of the model in De Magalhes and Giovannoni (2012). These reforms seem to be designed to transfer power to the financiers of the state, the wealthy merchants, and away from the old quasi-nobility, and the populace. During a period of high external threat and dire financial straights, the power over foreign policy was entrenched in the hands of those who could afford to finance the defence of the state. Once in power, they would decide over foreign policy with their interests in mind, and not with the objective of setting up a hereditary monarchy, or of antagonizing the foreign powers essential for the wealth of the state. 3.2 Genoa Genoa has no clear historically accepted date for a transition to rule by council or parliament. The best candidates are the rise of Gugliemo Boccanegra as Captain of the People in 1257 and Simone Bo

In between Genoa was ruled by podestas, foreign rulers, and the aristocracy. None of these forms of government proved stable. Throughout its history, Genoa is well known for internal strife that would regularly escalate into civil war between different noble families (clans). Since power never consolidated with any of the key clans, the families agreed by 1190 (under the influence of the Holy Roman Emperor) to be ruled by a Podesta, a foreigner who would rule Genoa with a mandate of one year.22 Besides the conflict between different noble families, there was also a conflict between the noble families and the people, in particular what Epstein (1996, p. 206) called the popolo grasso, the rich merchants who were not part of the nobility. Epstein (1996, p. 137) describes the events of 1257: after a crash in the economy a popular revolt elected Gugliemo Boccanegra as Captain of the People and a new council of 32 Anziani. The new regimes policie