Bellezza-Venice

In Mary Hoffmann's fantasy Stravaganza series, her alt-Italy, known as Talia, has numerous similarities to real life Renaissance Italy. Amongst these is an alt-Venice known as Bellezza a.k.a The City of Masks. Bellezza (much like OTL Venice) is an elective monarchy, although it is possible for one ruler to be their predecessor's child.

The main difference is that instead of electing doughty older statesmen as doge, in Bellezza they elect a woman-ruler as duchessa, but said woman must be a citizen of the lagoon city. What would it take to get such a system in place in the real world Or is it something too ASB?
 
It really depends on when, where, and who are the constitutes. For example OTL Venice was quiet gender equal among the non-nobles, inquisition records showed that roughly 1-10 women lived alone in a residence they owned. Part of the reason is that unlike a good deal of Europe Venice produced a lot of luxuries, which were not overly dependent on muscle strength like a good deal of machinery or labour at the time.

But among the nobles, it was quiet patriarchal. Among all factors I believe that the high mortality rate of child birth was the original factor, culture aside when you are a noble inheritance is a large concern and male heirs have the advantage that they probably wouldn't die in the production of spawns. Of course all being said, you do have a society where the strongest and their descendants often ruled and chances are if you are a warrior, then you are male.

So what you needed was: some sort of electorate that is not very noble, but also somewhat gender equal due to economic circumstances.
 
Last edited:
Top