Domenico Selvo (died 1087) is the 31st Doge of Venice, serving from 1071 to 1084.
During his reign as Doge, his domestic policies, the alliances that he forges, and the battles that the Venetian military wins and loses lay the foundations for much of the subsequent foreign and domestic policy of the Republic of Venice.
He avoids confrontations with the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Roman Catholic Church at a time in European history when conflict threatensto upset the balance of power.
At the same time, he forges new agreements with the major nations that will set up a long period of prosperity for the Republic of Venice.
Through his military alliance with the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos awards Venice economic favors with the declaration of a Golden Bull that will allow for the development of the republic's international trade over the next few centuries.
Within the city itself, he supervises a longer period of the construction of the modern St Mark's Basilica than any other Doge.
The basilica's complex architecture and expensive decorations stand as a testament to the prosperity of Venetian traders during this period.
The essentially democratic way in which he not only is elected but also removed from power is part of an important transition of Venetian political philosophy.
The overthrow of his rule in 1084 is one of many forced abdications in the early history of the republic that further blurs the lines between the powers of the Doge, the common electorate, and the nobility.
