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The Piazza was often troubled by extremely different events, since here
(and exactly in the Piazzetta between the columns of Mark and Theodore)
capital execution took place.
Sometimes the same Doge attended the event in order to witness the meaning
of public punishment for treason, peculation or heinous crimes.
The administration of justice was generally a quick affair: once the accused
was imprisoned in the Palace dungeons, a hasty trial ensued and, as the
case required, the use of torture.
The death sentence was carried out a few days later: in the Piazzetta
by beheading or hanging. Occasionally, for crimes of peculation or treason,
a hand was cut off. After death, the body might have been quartered and
the poor remains left for days in the same place, as a warning.
So in 1432 Carmagnola, the General of the Republic was put to death for
treason and in 1435 Marsilio da Padova was accused of trying to re-conquer
the city, which was already ruled by this family.
But capital execution was also extended to nobles, in the case of Andrea
Contarini who had wounded Doge Gritti.
Some nobles, accused of treason, were beheaded between the two red columns
of the Ducal Palace's colonnade, from which the Doge usually looked out.
Capital executions were quite frequent: between 1500 and 1600 these numbered
over a hundred and the charges, besides murder, were rebellion, tax fraud,
sexual crimes and abuse; there were many death sentences for sodomy.
There was enormous public participation, above all, for the most notorious
bloody deeds, often observed from aboard boats moored in the Basin. .
1310: an episode of urban warfare
In 1310 the party headed by Baiamonte Tiepolo and Marco Querini, in opposition
to ending the oligarchy, rebelled against Doge Pietro Gradenigo and prepared
itself for a physical battle as described in a manuscript preserved in
the Querini Stampalia (class IV codex LIX) in a typically hagiographical
tone:
"The Most High Doge, having heard of the preparations in hand that night
at Rialto, and who intended to attack the Palace, that same night immediately
rounded up many nobles and citizens and others with their weapons and
said: - "My sons, you know of the ill intentions of Marco Querini and
his son-in-law Baiamonte Tiepolo, who are coming to take my life and your
freedom, and overthrow this Republic and keep it under tyrannical oppression.
The time has arrived for you to come forward to preserve it: there is
no time for words as the enemies are on their way.
Following this, Messier the Doge went down from the Palace into the Piazza
with numerous armed men and when they arrived at the shrine, some noblemen
realising that M. Marco Querini with his sons and supporters were half
way across the Piazza, went ahead to face them, shouting, "traitor, your
country's murderer, kill, kill" and of the others M. Marco Giustinian
went ahead saying "kill, kill, kill, down, down, attack, attack" and with
great imperiousness and courage killed him, and Benedetto his son and
his barber suffered the same fate. Nicoletto, another son, fled to save
himself".
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