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 Italy and the Renaissance 291 by eleven thousand marines ready to fight the battles of the republic. But when Constantinople fell into the hands of the Tqrks (1453), and when, later, the route to India by sea was discovered (498, 499), Venice could not maintain control of the trade with the East, and while it remained an important city, it no longer enjoyed its former influence and power. Venice often came to blows with other rival cities, especially Genoa, but at home its citizens lived peaceably under the govern- ment of its Senate, its Council of Ten, and its duke, or Doge. Venice was a sort of republic managed by a group of merchant nobles. 488. Role of the Italian Despots. Not only were the other Italian towns fighting one another most of the time but their government was often in the hands of despots, something like the old Greek tyrants ( 96), who got control of towns and man- aged them in the interest of themselves, their relatives, and their friends. There are many stories of the incredible ferocity exhib- ited by the Italian despots of the Renaissance. It must be remembered that they were rarely legitimate rulers, but usurpers, who could hope to retain their power only so long as they could keep their subjects under their control and defend themselves against the attacks of equally illegitimate usurpers in the neigh- boring cities. This situation developed a high degree of sagacity, and many of the despots found it to their interest to govern well, and even to give dignity to their rule by encouraging artists and men of letters. 489. Florence. The history of Florence differs in many ways from that of Venice and the despotisms of which Milan was an example. Florence was a republic, and all classes claimed the right to interest themselves in the government. This led to con- stant changes in the constitution and frequent struggles between the different political parties. When one party got the upper hand it generally expelled its chief opponents from the city. Exile was a terrible punishment to a Florentine, for Florence was not merely his native city it was his country, and loved and hon- ored as such.