What happened on March 11 in Venice

According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, today is St Eudosia Empress’ Day

- March 11, 1116: on the occasion of his visit to Venice, Henry V of Franconia grants imperial privileges to the Monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore. The imperial visit had been celebrated with great pomp in the city, which at that time was ruled by Doge Ordelaffo Falier (or Ordelaf Faledro in palindromic form), during his ruling there were wars and natural disasters, including the destruction of Malamocco in 1110 , but he was also responsible for the arrival in the Basilica of the Pala d'Oro from Constantinople and the foundation of the Arsenale.

- March 11, 1430: Doge Francesco Foscari, while on his way to the government offices, is attacked by patrician Andrea Contarini, who wounds him with a dagger in the nose; the Doge is saved by the ambassador of Siena, who deflects the blow; Contarini at the trial explains that the motive is his failure to be elected Captain of the Gulf, to the judges he appears unstable of mind, but they still condemn him for Lese-Majesty to an infamous sentence: his right hand is cut off and he is hanged.

- March 11, 1489: the Art of the Couriers of the Republic is established which wins the contract for the transport of postal packages. Couriers can transport packages only with the express authorization of the state authorities, they could go around armed by day and night, but they could not be replaced by other people; they all come from Val Brembana, are registered by inheritance and their number is thirty-two.

- March 11, 1621: the Collegio allocates the building already owned by the Duke of Ferrara overlooking the Grand Canal in front of San Marcuola to 'Fondego dei Turchi', that is 'the only dwelling of all Turks, and of all their goods, who arrive in this town'.

- March 11, 1851: Verdi's Opera 'Rigoletto' is premiered at the Fenice.

- March 11, 1900: Lieutenant N.H. Francesco Checco Querini disappears in the Artic during a scientific expedition to the North Pole (led by the Duke of Abruzzi, Luigi Amedeo di Savoia-Aosta) with the Stella Polare ship. The ship was stranded in the ice, in the bay of Teplitz, so the base camp is established on the pack. That day marching towards the pole begins: the men are divided into three groups, but the one composed of Querini, Ollier and Stokken will be dispersed and will no longer return to the base, while the third group, including Commander Cagni, will reach latitude N 86° 34', arriving just 381 km from the North Pole.

Taken from 'Almanacco di Venezia -1600 anni ab Urbe còndita' by Andrea Gersich and Edoardo Rubini

Venice, 11th March 2021