Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state’s aristocracy. The doge was neither a duke in the modern sense, nor the equivalent of a hereditary duke. The title “doge” was the title of the senior-most elected official of Venice and Genoa; both cities were republics and elected doges
and if you’re like me, you immediately click on the republic of genoa link, and discover…
The Doge of Genoa (Ligurian: Dûxe , pronounced [ˈdyːʒe]; Latin: Januensium dux et populi defensor , “Commander of the Genoese and Defender of the People”) was the ruler of the Republic of Genoa, a communal republic, from 1339 until the state’s extinction in 1797. Originally elected for life, after 1528 the Doges were elected for terms of two years.[[1]](Doge of Genoa - Wikipedia) In actuality, the Republic (or Dogate) was an oligarchy ruled by a small group of merchant families, from whom the doges were selected.
Do philosopher kings rule for life? Or are they limited for a term of years?
