Venetian Diplomacy

Abstract

The reputation of the republic of Venice for skillful and astute diplomacy was based on an unrivaled capacity to gather intelligence and enhanced by the care taken by Venetian governments to keep their own policy‐making secret. Venetian diplomatic skills were initially developed dealing with the Byzantine emperors. In later centuries the protection of their extensive commercial interests in the eastern Mediterranean resulted in their being considered experts in dealing with the Ottoman Turks. They also played an important role in the development of diplomatic relations among the states of Italy. From the sixteenth century, as the republic's power declined, Venice generally tried to remain neutral, using diplomacy to try to play a role as an international power.