Italy
Venice in the 14th Century
1297 the serrata, the "closing" of the Greater Council. It lists the families who may be elected. The list was never really closed, though. Families could still be added by special permission, and in fact membership expanded several times over the 14th century, so that by 1400 there were nearly 1,300 families on the list, where there had been only 210 in 1300. The important distinction is that the expansion was controlled rather than being open as it had been prior to 1297.
In 1309 Venice was invited by the ruler of Ferrara to take over the city. Pope Clement V took umbrage, claiming Ferrara belonged to the Papal States. Venice went ahead, and Clement responded by proclaiming a crusade against Venice and invited Robert of Anjou, King of Naples, to lead it. Venice suffered sharp reverses and conceded the issue.
In 1310 there was a plot to overthrow the government, led by three families of ancient noble lineage. The plot was foiled, but the reaction in Venice led to the creation of the Dieci, the Council of Ten, which was a secret committee specifically charged with ferreting out treason. There was also a threat in 1355 when the ruling doge tried to seize exclusive control of the government. His plans were revealed and he was executed in the public square.
1378-81 The War of Chioggia gave Venice a final victory over Genoa.