This book focuses on the identity and public personae of the dogaresse, wives of the elected doges of medieval and early modern Venice. The study traces the evolution of the public functions of the group of quasi-royal wives, rare for their visibility, during Venice's development into a regional economic and political power. The book examines the dogaresse's significant representational roles in both Venice's unique political system and its gendering, and in ambitious families whose members held ducal office. Further, this work places this group of political wives not only in their local Venetian context, but also in a broader international context through comparison with other political consorts. The project enhances historical understanding of women, family and of gendered symbols in Venice and abroad.