The Venetian doge Enrico Dandolo (ca. 1107-1205) made Venice the largest colonial power in all of Christendom.

Although Enrico Dandolo held a number of public offices throughout his life, it was not until he became doge in 1192 at the age of 85 that his career acquired historical importance. In his first years as doge he defeated an armada from Pisa. He subsequently sent a powerful squadron to the canal of Otranto to break a blockade which the Pisans, aided by the king of Sicily, had set up to injure Venetian commerce.

Dandolo's most significant political achievement was his contriving to have Venetian ships hired for the Fourth Crusade (1202). Venice's direct participation with a powerful fleet was contingent upon its receiving half of the spoils of victory. But since the doge had not received full payment in advance for transporting the French cavalry, he refused to put them aboard, and...