To the discussion of the "contract" origin of the Venetian state

The main peculiarities of the state genesis on the islands of the Venetian Lagoon so specific that they cannot in any fashion be viewed as typical example of state formation. It was ascertained that the Venetian form of state formation has nothing in common with the “peaceful” (in J. Locke’s terminology) way of state origin. Relatively late Venice became the “school” for whole Europe - in the late Middle Ages when it became the greatest maritime power. Having studied special scientific literature, medieval source - John the Deacon’s chronicle, the author came to a conclusion that the mass settlement of the islands of the Venetian Lagoon occurs only during VII century under the external pressure - conquest of Northern Italy by the Langobards. But until 30-s of the IX century the growing population of the islands were to content with the status of the lieges of the Byzantine Empire, formally maintaining it in the X century also. Its true independence Venice achieved through struggle with the existing at that moment states: Byzantium, the Frankish Empire, Kingdom of Hungary and the Arabic Caliphate. During this struggle, which often took form of a militant action, Venice not once had to enter into contractual relationships with its neighbours, but all these treaties were of international character. Contrary to Locke they cannot be interpreted as the original social contract which allegedly originated the Venetian state.