Juditha triumphans

Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernis barbarie (Latin: 'Judith triumphant after defeating the barbarity of Holofernes'), RV 644, is an oratorio by Antonio Vivaldi. Although the rest of the oratorio survives completely intact, the overture has been lost. The Latin libretto was written by Iacopo Cassetti based upon the Book of Judith.

The exact date of composition and performance of Juditha triumphans are not known, but the allegorical treatment of the Venetian defense of Corfu dominated public discussion in Venice throughout 1716. This work was an allegorical description of the victory of the Venetians (the Christians) over the Turks in August 1716. The work was commissioned to celebrate the victory of the Republic of Venice over the Turks during the siege of Corfu: in July 1716, the Turks had landed on Corfu and set siege to the island. The population resisted the occupation and, in August, Venice signed an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor. On 18 August, under the leadership of Count Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, the decisive battle was won and the Turks abandoned the island.

Although it has been suggested that Juditha triumphans was performed at the Ospedale della Pietà in November 1716, the victorious General Schulenburg, to whom the work is dedicated, could not have been present for any performance prior to January 3, 1717.