 Selvo is notable for being the first Doge in the history of Venice whose election was recorded by an eyewitness , a parish priest of the church of San Michele Archangelo by the name of Domenico Tino . The account gives historians a valuable glimpse of the power of the popular will of the Venetian people . Over the previous two centuries , the rule of quasi @-@ tyrannies had plagued the popular belief that Venetians held democratic control over their leaders . The events of Selvo 's election occurred in the spring of 1071 , when the nearly thirty @-@ year reign of Doge Domenico Contarini came to an end upon his death . 
