After the eradication of feudal- inclined elite at the beginning of ninth century and the Treaty of Aachen during which Venice was finally defined as Byzantine territory, it took less than two decades for Venice to make first naval efforts and create a maritime policy. Since the opening of regular trade routes, the need for protection from Neretvan pirates emerged and which led the Venetians to construct its first serious fleet in 830. It was the beginning of a maritime power that that would only grow in the next six centuries. After the difficulties caused by the Croatian duke Domagoj in the tenth century, the Venetians realised that constant development of their naval technology and fleet was necessary. As a result, at the end of the century the Venetian doge possessed the largest fleet in the region. This was a maritime innovation that marked the following century and led to the defeat in 1082 of the huge Norman fleet when it was destroyed by the newest Venetian war ships near Durres. This brilliant victory provided them with the commercial benefits that would boost the Venetian dream of empire. The fall of Constantinople in 1205-s and individual adventurists conquering the Greek islands in the name of the state ranked Venice among the world’s superpowers of the time. This superpower was completely different when compared to all others: while other states were measuring power on land, Venice did so on sea.