[Footnote 37: When the son of Charlemagne asserted his right
of sovereignty, he was answered by the loyal Venetians,
(Constantin. Porphyrogenit. de Administrat Imperii, pars ii.
c. 28, p. 85;) and the report of the ixth establishes the
fact of the xth century, which is confirmed by the embassy
of Liutprand of Cremona. The annual tribute, which the
emperor allows them to pay to the king of Italy, alleviates,
by doubling, their servitude; but the hateful word must be
translated, as in the charter of 827, (Laugier, Hist. de
Venice, tom. i. p. 67, &c.,) by the softer appellation of
subditi, or fideles.]