The tomb is that of Daniele Manin, and since we are here I cannot avoid an historical digression, for this man stands for the rise of the present Venice.

When Lodovico Manin, the last Doge, came to the throne, in 1788, Venice was, of course, no longer the great power that she had been; but at any rate she was Venice, the capital of a republic with the grandest and noblest traditions.

She had even just given one more proof of her sea power by her defeat of the pirates of Algiers.

But her position in Europe had disappeared and a terrible glow was beginning to tinge the northern sky--none other than that of the French Revolution, from which was to emerge a Man of Destiny whose short sharp way with the map of Europe must disturb the life of frivolity and ease which the Venetians contrived still to live.
Then came Napoleon's Italian campaign and his defeat of Lombardy.

Venice resisted; but such resistance was merely a matter of time: the force was all-conquering.