'Wise Men of the Mainland') was a board of five senior magistrates of the Republic of Venice, initially charged with the defence of the Republic's possessions in the Italian mainland (Domini di Terraferma).
The Savi di Terraferma were established c. 1420, as part of the Republic's expansion into the Veneto and Lombardy, and its military confrontation with the Duchy of Milan over hegemony in northern Italy.
[1] They were probably the direct descendants of the extraordinary Savi straordinari alla guerra that were elected in 1412 for the pursuit of the war.
[2] In 1432, the Savi di Terraferma became ex officio members of the Venetian Senate.
[2] They were five in number, and sat on the Full College (Pien Collegio), the Republic's effective cabinet.