Pietro II Orseolo

Pietro II Orseolo
Portrait in the Doge’s Palace
Doge of Venice
Reign	991–1009
Predecessor	Tribuno Memmo
Successor	Otto Orseolo
Co-doges	Giovanni Orseolo (1002–1007) Otto Orseolo (1007–1009)
Born	Pietro Orseolo 961 Venice
Died	1009 (aged 48) Venice
Burial	Church of San Zaccaria
Spouse	Maria Candiano
Issue Detail	Giovanni Orseolo Orso Orseolo, Patriarch of Grado Otto Orseolo, Doge of Venice Vitale Orseolo, Bishop of Torcello Domenico Orseolo Enrico Orseolo Hicela Orseolo Felicita Orseolo Two other daughters
Regnal name Pietro II Orseolo
House	Orseolo
Father	Pietro I Orseolo
Mother	Felicia Malipiero

Pietro II Orseolo (961−1009) was the Doge of Venice from 991 to 1009, and a member of the House of Orseolo. He began the period of eastern expansion of Venice that lasted for the better part of 500 years. He secured his influence in the Dalmatian Romanized settlements against two Slavic peoples, the Croats and the Narentines, freed Venice from a 50-year-old taxation to the latter, and started Venice's expansions by conquering the islands of Lastovo (Lagosta) and Korčula (Curzola) and acquiring Dubrovnik (Ragusa).

These actions marked the beginning of the Stato da Màr, Venice's overseas dominion, and laid the foundation for its maritime empire. Because of these achievements, he is sometimes referred to as "the Great doge".