Doge

The Doge (from Latin "dux," originally meaning leader, especially military; in feudal times rendering the nobiliary, often princely, title Duke, which derives from it) was the elected chief of state in a few Italian 'crowned republics'.

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• The two best known rivaled each-other and the other regional great powers by building their historical city-states into maritime, commercial and to a lesser extent territorial mini-empires: Venice and Genoa (Genova, still capital of Liguria; formal style Serenissimo Duce e governatore).

See Doges of Venice, Doges of Genoa

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• Virtually insignificant, but still styled 'most serene republic', was the minute Senarica, named after its 'capital' west of Teramo (in Abruzzo) on Central Italy's Adriatic coast, which also elected doges (annual?) from 1343 till its annexation to the Neapolitan kingdom of Sicily in 1797

Dux: Dux is Latin for leader (from the verb ducere, 'to pull') and could refer to anyone who commanded two or more legions. Though the dux could refer to a Consul, the title of dux usually refers to the Roman Governor of the provinces. As the Governor, the Dux, was both the highest civil official as well...

Duke: The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Portugal, Spain and France (in Italy, principe i...

Doges of Venice: For some thousand years, the chief magistrate and leader of the Republic of Venice was the Doge (Duke). Doges of Venice were elected by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city....

Doge related Images and Photos (experimental)

Doge Francesco Foscari	Venice the Doge Palace	St. Mark's and the Doge's Palace Venice	In Front of the Doge Palace in Venice
The Doge of Genoa Offering His Apologies to Louis XIV (1638-1715) the 15th May 1685 1715	The Betrothal of the Venetian Doge to the Adriatic Sea circa 1739-30	Venice: The Bacino di San Marco with the Doge's Palace and Entrance to the Grand Canal 1729	A Petitioner before the Doge
King Henri III (1551-89) of France Visiting Venice in 1574 Escorted by Doge Alvise Mocenigo	The Arrival of Princess Amelia of Saxony in a Carriage at the Doge's Palace