doge

A doge ( , ; plural dogi or doges) was an elected lord and head of state in several Italian city-states, notably Venice and Genoa, during the medieval and Renaissance periods. Such states are referred to as "crowned republics". Etymology The word is from the Venetian language, reaching English via French. , along with the related English word duke and the Italian , (masculine) and (feminine) all descend from the Latin , meaning either "spiritual leader" or "military commander". However, the words duce and Duca are not interchangeable. Moreover, Duca (duke) is an aristocratic and hereditary title. The wife of a doge is styled a Dogaressa and the office of the doge is termed dogeship. Usage The title of doge was used for the elected chief of state in several Italian "crowned republics". The two best known such republics were Venice (where in Venetian he was called ) and Genoa (where he was called a ) which rivalled each other, and the other regional great powers, by building their historical city-states into maritime, commercial, and territorial empires. Other Italian republics to have doges were Amalfi and the small town of Senarica.