Vitale II Michiel

Vitale II Michiel, born in the year one thousand one hundred fifty, served as the Doge of Venice from one thousand one hundred fifty-five to one thousand one hundred seventy-two. His tenure began during a tumultuous period marked by deteriorating relations with the Byzantine Empire and the rising significance of mainland Italian markets. As Venice sought to maintain favorable relations with the Western Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, it soon found itself embroiled in conflicts on both eastern and western fronts.

In one thousand one hundred fifty-eight, Northern Italy erupted in revolt against Frederick following his crossing of the Alps. The towns of Milan, Crema, Brescia, and Piacenza united to form the Lombard League, receiving support from Pope Adrian and the Kingdom of Sicily. The political landscape shifted dramatically with the death of Pope Adrian on September first, one thousand one hundred fifty-nine, leading to a disputed papacy that lasted eighteen years. Venice aligned itself with Alexander III, fearing Frederick's retribution, especially as Padua, Verona, and Ferrara, loyal to Frederick, launched attacks on Venice, only to be decisively defeated.

Frederick's ambitions extended beyond Venice, as he sought to reclaim Ancona from Byzantium and counter the Normans in Sicily. However, his efforts were largely unsuccessful. The conflict escalated in Rome, where anti-Pope Paschal's forces clashed with the Romans defending St. Peter's Basilica. The brutal siege resulted in significant casualties, and Frederick's army ultimately succumbed to pestilence, which many viewed as divine retribution for the desecration of the sacred site. Amidst this chaos, Venice emerged as a founding member of the Greater Lombard League on December first, one thousand one hundred sixty-seven.

During this period, many Venetians in Constantinople enjoyed privileges granted by Byzantine Emperors, but tensions grew as Emperor Manuel began to curtail these benefits and bolster the positions of Venice's rivals, including Pisa, Genoa, and Amalfi. The capture of much of the Dalmatian coast from Stephen III of Hungary further exacerbated Venice's frustrations. Vitale II Michiel's leadership was characterized by navigating these complex political waters, as Venice sought to assert its influence amidst the shifting allegiances of the time.