In this next little section, Edgecumb Stanley talks about the arrival of the relics of Saint Mark in Venice. The shrine of Saint Mark is important to player characters, because it’s the strongest Dominion Aura in the City of Venice and also, unfortunately, its where a lot of government ritual is solemnised by blessings of the bishop. Social magi are going to be there a lot, and it is where their power is weakest. Mark is particularly important in Venetian marriage customs, which we will cover in a later episode.
Stanley starts this little section in the dogado of Giustiniano, the son of the doge and dogaressa we were consiering last time. Note that his name is a masculinisation of the name of the patron saint of the dogaressas: he’s been dedicated to the girl saint with the grape vines since birth.
The brief and quiet reign of Giustiniano Badoero was remarkable for one eminent event—the translation of the body of Saint Mark the Evangelist, from Alexandria to Venice.
The pious Venetians were well aware of the importance of possession of relics of the Saints. At Aquileia, Eraclea, Padua and the other cities, whence their forebears had fled to the islets of the lagunes, the churches were the depositories of such treasures, and the revenues of the ecclesiastical authorities were greatly augmented by the devotion of the religiously minded inhabitants. Besides, such holy shrines drew pilgrims and visitors from other states and so enhanced their reputation.
Venetian envoys to Constantinople and travellers generally in the Orient were admonished to secure if possible relics for translation to the lagune city. Accordingly in 828 news reached Venice that two sea captains of Venetian merchant galleys, wintering in the port of Alexandria, had entered into relations with the ruler of the city. On their part they were to smuggle arms and provisions for the use of the Egyptian forces against the Eastern Emperor, and in exchange to take whatever they might like from ruined temples near the sea-shore, one was the traditional burial-place of the second Evangelist.
So, let’s pause there: the Venetians earned the right to loot the tomb of Saint Mark by selling weapons to the Egyptians so that they could fight the Eastern, Christian, Empire. Saint Mark is apparently fine with this, and no-one in Venice seems to think it’s an impious act. This tells us something about the practical bent of Venetian theology at the time.
I would like to note that Stanley tells a different story to the Venetians here. In the shrine of St Mark in Venice, there’s a mosaic which shows the Venetians hiding the saint’s relics in pork and cabbage leaves, so that the Egyptians (who were Muslims) wouldn’t inspect them too carefully. Their version is that some Greek monks helped them save the saint’s treasures before the local, Muslim, rulers could find them. Use whichever you want…
Treasures of all sorts were unearthed, and, at length, the tomb of the Saint yielded up a corpse undecayed and arrayed in episcopal vestments. Acknowledged and venerated upon the spot the hallowed remains were reverently conveyed to Venice, and received there with tumultuous acclamations and temporarily enshrined within the ancient church of San Pietro di Castello.
Doge Giustiniano and Dogaressa Felicita presided at the religious ceremonies, which brought together and cemented the people of the outlying islands and the inhabitants of the coast towns of terra-firma. Religious fervour overspread all Venice, men and women surrendered themselves, their children, and their goods, in honour of the Saint, who then and there was hailed one of the patrons of Venice, sharing the distinction with St Mary the Virgin, St Teodoro, and St Giustina of Padua.
That must have been a busy time for the Dogaressa and her ladies, and, indeed, for all the well-disposed women-folk of Venice. There were rich hangings to embroider, fine linen to weave and stitch, delicate lace to fret out, flowers to arrange, and sweet odours to confection. For St Mark nothing was spared, and even the poorest of the poor put on the best attire she could obtain and made festival with her richer sisters.
We might, folkloristically, start seeing his symbol, the Lion of Saint Mark at this time. By 1220 it’s on all kinds of things. – the famous statue was restored last century. The statue itself is probably a repurposed Egyptian griffin, on a column of Egyptian marble, which we can make some use of at a later point. It stands opposite a similarly recycled column and statue. This is of Saint Theodore standing upon, and spearing, a crocodile, which is meant to be read as a dragon. Note that the winged lion appears on the flag of Venice, with a Bible in times of peace and a sword in times of war.
Not content with the splendours of the day of translation, the last day of January was for ever set apart as an annual festival in honour of St Mark ; and with it was associated the ancient and beautiful custom of public marriage upon the Eve of the Feast of the Purification.
Giustiniano Badoero very soon wearied of the responsibilities of office and retired, with Donna Feliclta his wife Into the cloister of San Servilio, which he had enriched by gifts of lands near the coast city of Abondia Vigilla.
To the third Doge of the Badoero family, Giovanni, second son of the ”Grand Agnello,” belongs the glory of founding ” the most resplendent Christian shrine In Europe,” San Marco dl Venezia.” He succeeded his brother as sole Doge in 829. What special part he and his Dogaressa took in the actual building and first dedicatory celebration, history has not recorded.
Here we again see Edgecumb Stanley making his history more polite. When St Mark’s body came to Venice, Doge Guistiniano didn’t give it to the church, he kept in in the Ducal Palace. In his will, he asked his widow to create the basilica that his brother dedicated. This was a political move. Much as Constantinople claimed the ecumenical status of the New Rome, so Grado, the local archbishopric, wanted to see itself as the heir to the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Except they couldn’t, because the Apostle’s relics weren’t church property – they belonged to he Doge.
Even when they gave them up, it wasn’t to the local bishop or archbishop: it was to a purpose built structure between the palace and the basilica of the previous patron of Venice. The Basilica is connected to the ducal palace and is, legally, the private chapel of the doge. As his chapel, he gets to say who leads services there.
If you are looking it up online, the original was burned down in the Tenth Century, with a doge inside it, by an anti-tyrannical mob. A new one was built on the same site. In the game period the domes are being extended upward, so they are visible from the piazza. Its nickname “the Church of Gold” might date from slightly later.
The reign of Giovanni Badoero lasted seven years—a season of consolidation of Venetian power and also of family Influence. The house of Partecipazio gave seven Doges to Venice, — men of approved probity, ruling their households and themselves with simple dignity, and the State with firmness and distinction. They one and all, with their consorts, when public cares and duties became excessive, sought the solace of the cloister.
…which,. as I’ve noted, is suspscious.
Games From Folktales 