Constantinople the capital of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, now Istanbul corno the distinctive cap worn by the doge
Council of Ten the intelligence and security arm of the government, made up of the doge, his six counselors, and ten elected noblemen dogaressa the doge’s wife doge (“duke” in Venetian dialect) the head of state, elected for life ducat a silver coin, equal to 8 lira or 160 soldi, and roughly a week’s wages for a married journeyman laborer with children (unmarried men were paid less) fante (pl: fanti) a minion of the Ten felze a canopy on a gondola (no longer used) fondamenta a footpath alongside a canal
Great Council the noblemen of Venice in assembly, the ultimate authority in the state lira (pl: lire) a coin equal to 20 soldi lustrissimo “most illustrious,” honorific given to wealthy or notable citizens magazzen a tavern that does not sell food and stays open around the clock marangona the great bell in the campanile San Marco, which marked the main divisions of the day messer my lord or sir
Missier Grande the chief of police, who carries out the orders of the Ten
Molo the waterfront of the Piazzetta, on the Grand Canal moresca a popular Venetian sword dance
Piazza the city square in front of the Basilica of San Marco
Piazzetta an extension of the Piazza, flanking the palace
Porte or Sublime Porte, the Sultan’s government in Constantinople
Quarantia the Council of Forty, very roughly equal to a supreme court but with administrative duties also. The three chiefs of the Quarantia are also members of the Signoria salone a reception hall salotto a living room sbirro (pl: sbirri) a police constable scuola (pl: scuole) a confraternity (restricted to commoners) sequin a gold coin equal to 440 soldi (22 lire)
Serenissima, La the Republic of Venice
Signori di Notte young aristocrats elected to run the local sbirri
Signoria the doge and his six counselors, plus the three chiefs of the Quarantia soldo (pl: soldi) see DUCAT
Ten see COUNCIL OF TEN
Three the state inquisitors, a subcommittee of the Council of Ten traghetto a permanent mooring station for public-hire gondolas; also the association of gondoliers that owns it
Tuscan the language of Florence, which became modern Italian
Veneziano the language of Venice vizio Missier Grande ’s deputy
Wells the prison cells on the ground floor of the Doges’ Palace zonta a group of extra members added to a committee
