The office of Procurator of San Marco (Italian: Procuratore di San Marco) was the second most prestigious life appointment in the Republic of Venice (the position of Doge of Venice being the most prestigious).
Originating in the ninth century, the Procurator's original duties were to attend to the fabric and administration of St Mark's Basilica. There was originally one Procurator, appointed by the Doge, but between 1231 and 1442, their number increased to nine procurators appointed by the Great Council (Maggior Consiglio) of Venice. Their duties also expanded in 1269 to include the protection of orphans and the insane, as well as the execution of wills. Appointment as a Procurator of San Marco was one of the highest honours the Most Serene Republic could bestow on its citizen as a reward for a life of service to the Republic.
The nine procurators consisted of:
The Procurators' offices were located in the Procuratie in the Piazza San Marco.
The office of Procurator of San Marco was not abolished at the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797. Instead, the Procurators remained responsible for administering the assets of St. Mark's Basilica, under the authority of the Patriarch of Venice.
The position was confirmed by a royal decree issued by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy in 1931. Today, there are seven procurators, with the president holding the title of First Procurator of San Marco (Primo Procuratore di San Marco). The Procurators work closely with architects and engineers to ensure the historic preservation of St. Mark's Basilica.