Giuseppe Viscovich, also Josip Visković, was a Venetian

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

. He was the Captain of the town of

Perast Perast () is a town in Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro. It is situated a few kilometres northwest of Kotor and is noted for its proximity to the islets of Sveti Đorđe Island, St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks. History Acc ...

(now in

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

), the last territory of the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

to surrender to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. On August 23, 1797, the citizens of Perast gathered to bury the flag of the Republic under the altar of the cathedral, to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Before the kneeling crowd, Viscovich delivered an emotional speech, the ''Discorso de Perasto'', still well known to Venetians. Contemporary chroniclers say that Giuseppe said to his young grandson, present at the ceremony, "You too kneel, Annibale, and remember these words as long as you live." Captain Viscovich's impassioned speech is often cited as an expression of the loyalty which many Croatian, Serbian and Montenegrin subjects of the Venetian Republic felt.

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Year of birth missing Year of death missing Republic of Venice military personnel People from Perast 18th-century Italian people Venetian period in the history of Montenegro Venetian Slavs {{europe-noble-stub