The history of the Republic of Venice traditionally begins with its foundation at noon on Friday March 25, 421 by authorities from Padua who hoped to establish a trading-post in the region. This event was marked by the founding of the Venetian church of St. James. What is certain is that the early city of Venice, existed as a collection of lagoon communities which banded together for mutual defence from the Lombards as the power of the Byzantine Empire dwindled in northern Italy in the late 7th century. More…