The Barnabotti

As positions on the Great Council are hereditary there is always the possibility of a noble family retaining their vote after having lost their fortunes and all other influence. As we cannot expect such noble families to labor for their living the Venetian state traditionally affords them small pensions to live on.\nWith the chaotic political situation in the east, the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the loss of Venetian influence in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, this group of poor nobles have been growing quickly. The great number of impoverished nobles are known to spend their pensions on gambling in or near the Campo San Barnaba and some will even sell their votes to anyone willing to pay. Sometimes referred to as Barnabotti, after the Campo in which they reside, this group is still not a great problem. If this development continues, however, it might well undermine the Great Council and unduly increase the power of those with the money to pay for votes.