 In 1032 , <unk> himself was deposed by those who wished to restore power to Otto Orseolo , but the former Doge lay dying in Constantinople and was unable to return from exile . Domenico Orseolo , a younger brother of Otto and a rather unpopular figure in Venice , attempted to seize the throne without waiting for the formality of an election , but as soon as he tried this , his many enemies , including those who pushed for the reinstatement of Otto , grew outraged that an Orseolo would assume the throne simply because he was the son of Pietro II . The power of the Doge was severely checked , and Domenico Flabanico , a successful merchant , was called by the people to the position of Doge . During his 11 @-@ year reign Flabanico enacted several key reforms that would restrict the power of future Doges , including a law forbidding the election of a son of a Doge . 
