John, deacon of Venice

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For other deacons of this name, see John the Deacon

John, deacon of Venice (d. after 1008) was a Venetian deacon and religious chronicler.

The oldest chronicle of Venice, known as the Chronicon Sagonini, was compiled by deacon John, the chaplain and perhaps a relative of the Doge Pietro II Orseolo (991-1009). John enjoyed the confidence of this doge, and was often sent as his ambassador to Holy Roman Emperors Otto III and Henry II. In the first part of his chronicle, which deals with the early period of the republic, the narrative is often confused and deficient; later it becomes more accurate and complete, and for the time in which the writer himself lived it is particularly valuable. He carries the narrative to 1008 and treats in detail of the reign of Pietro Orseolo.

John has also been erroneously credited with the Chronicon Gradense, which is in the manuscripts usually given with Chronicon Venetum.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
• ed. G. H. Pertz, Monumenta Germaniae Historica: SS., VII, 1-36
• ed. Monticolo, Cronache Veneziane antichissime, I (1890), 59-171, in Fonti per la storia d' Italia, IX