ɪn ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi, ðɪ ˈɛmpɚɹɚ lˈɑːɾaɪɚɹ aɪ ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd ðɪ ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndəns ʌv vˈɛnɪs ænd ɪts ɐθˈɔːɹɪɾi ˌoʊvɚ ðə lɐɡˈuːn æz fˈɑːɹ æz ðə "", ˈaɪ.ˈiː., ðə sˈiː"sˈɔlt wˈɔːɾɚz", ɔːlɹˌɛdi ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd baɪ bɪzˈæntiəm.
In 840, the Emperor Lothair I recognised the independence of Venice and its authority over the lagoon as far as the "", i.e., the sea ("salt waters"), already recognised by Byzantium.