Giuseppe Viscovich

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Giuseppe Viscovich (also Josip Visković) was a Venetian count and military leader. He served as Captain of Perast, the last possession of the Republic of Venice to surrender to France. On August 23, 1797, the people of Perast buried the Republic’s flag under the cathedral altar to keep it from falling into enemy hands. Viscovich gave an emotional speech, the Discorso de Perasto, in front of the crowd. It is said he told his grandson Annibale to kneel and remember these words. The speech is seen as a symbol of loyalty among Venice’s Croatian, Serbian, and Montenegrin subjects.