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With the northern mainland in Lombard hands and with a considerable distance separating them from the center of Byzantine government at Ravenna, the islanders of Venice became increasingly independent. In 697 Paolo Lucio Anafesto a noble of Eraclea, the most important town of Venice’s region at the time, is elected Doge (the equivalent of Duke from the Latin Dux meaning leader). That would be the first documented ducal election in history for Venetians which had taken place in order to help put an end to the disputes between the nobles and in order to better organize the defense against the Lombards.

In 751 the Lombard King Aistulf conquers most of the Exarchate of Ravenna except the lagoon of Venice which remains a solely and increasingly autonomous Byzantine outpost.

With the Franks gradually taking the place of the Lombards, the Venetians developed skills as middle men between the Byzantine Empire on the east and the new Carolingian Empire to the west.