THE HOUSE OF
“de Michiel”

Among the twelve apostolic families who founded La Serenissima, the Most Serene Republic of Venice, the de Michiel name has stood for nearly a millennium as a symbol of leadership, vision, and mastery of commerce.

Descended from Roman patricians who fled to the Venetian lagoons after the fall of the Empire, the Michiels helped transform scattered islands into a republic that ruled the seas — a beacon of diplomacy, trade, and civilization.

Throughout its history, the family produced three Doges (Heads of State of Venice) and many other influential statesmen, admirals, diplomats, and patrons who shaped the destiny of the Republic and its global reach.

From the earliest days, the Michiels were builders of fleets, governors of trade, and patrons of art and knowledge, embodying the Venetian genius for combining strength, intellect, and refinement.

The most celebrated figure of the dynasty, Doge Domenico Michiel, led one of the greatest naval expeditions in Venetian history.

In 1124, commanding over a hundred war galleys, he captured Tyre, the richest and most strategic port of the ancient world.

This victory secured Venetian supremacy across the eastern Mediterranean and granted the Republic vast trading privileges — establishing Venice as the commercial powerhouse of its age.

Under Doge Michiel’s command, the family name became synonymous with strategic foresight, decisive leadership, and the creation of prosperity through global trade.

Beyond power and conquest, the Michiels were renowned as patrons of art, architecture, and humanistic learning.

From their grand residences — including Palazzo Michiel del Brusà on the Grand Canal — the family supported the masters who defined the Venetian Renaissance, enriching Europe’s cultural and intellectual life.

They believed that commerce and culture must advance together — that prosperity without beauty is hollow, and that a strong society is built as much through art and education as through trade and strategy. This philosophy endures in their descendants today.