Direct answer: There isn’t a living “Doge of Venice” today; the office ceased with the end of the Venetian Republic in 1797. Any current references to a “Doge” are historical or ceremonial/fictional in nature.
Context and quick guide
- Historical role: The Doge was the chief magistrate and leader of the Republic of Venice, elected for life by the city’s patrician class. The position existed from the 8th century until the fall of the Republic in 1797. Contemporary sources describe the Doge as a symbolic head of state rather than a reigning monarch.[4][5]
- Last Doge: The final Doge was Ludovico Manin, who abdicated in 1797 when Napoleon’s forces conquered Venice, ending the Venetian Republic.[5]
- Modern references: Today, “Doge” appears in cultural, academic, or touristic contexts (e.g., museums, ceremonial replicas, or literary references) rather than as an active political office. Some restoration projects in Venice discuss tombs and monuments of various doges (e.g., Morosini, Dandolo) as part of conservation work, not living offices.[2][6][4]
If you’d like, I can pull together:
- A short timeline of the Doges and the Republic’s fall.
- A list of notable Doges and their monuments/restorations in Venice.
- A map or suggested walking route focusing on sites connected to the Doges (Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Doge’s Palace, San Salvador, etc.).
Sources
Faliero was the 55th Doge of Venice, a man who was, at least for a time, well respected. But his legacy is that he was the only doge decapitated for treason. Research: 'Marino Faliero.' Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, vol. 34, Gale, 2014. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631010079/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=796d4353. Accessed 31 May 2022. Cavendish, Richard. 'Execution of Marin Falier, doge of...
www.iheart.comExplore the Doge’s Palace with an expert guide, cross the Bridge of Sighs, and uncover the power, politics, and secrets of Venetian rule.
www.througheternity.comDoges Palace Secret Itineraries Tour and St. Marks Basilica - Book your tickets NOW with Attractiontickets.com and get discounts.
www.attractiontickets.comThe conservation of the doge’s throne at Santi Giovanni e Paolo, constructed of gilded wood and embroidered silk upholstery, was funded by Save Venice in 1999.
www.savevenice.orgThe funerary monument of Doge Michele Morosini at Santi Giovanni e Paolo was restored by Save Venice in 1996.
www.savevenice.orgThe tomb of Doge Ranieri Zen, also known as Reniero Zeno, at Santi Giovanni e Paolo was restored by Save Venice in 1995.
www.savevenice.orgPaolo Veneziano’s Votive Picture of Doge Francesco Dandolo at Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was restored by Save Venice in 2001.
www.savevenice.orgJacopo Sansovino’s Funerary Monument to Doge Francesco Venier at the church of San Salvador was restored by Save Venice in 1987.
www.savevenice.org