Antonio Grimani (28 December 1434 – 7 May 1523) was the Doge of

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

from 1521 to 1523. He had previously served as commander of the Venetian Navy.

Biography

He was born in

into a relatively poor, but noble Grimani family and in his early years he worked as a tradesman, soon becoming one of the most important ones in the city. In 1494 he was created '' capitano generale da mar'' (sea commander-in-chief), a relatively easy task as he had to lead the Venetian operations along the

Adriatic The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) ...

coast in a peaceful period. But when in 1499 a new war between Venice and the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

broke out, his lack of experience led to two crushing defeats (Sapienza, 19 August, and

Zonchio Pylos (, ; el, Πύλος), historically also known as Navarino, is a town and a former Communities and Municipalities of Greece, municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has ...

, six days later). Grimani was threatened with the death penalty, but this was turned into a mild exile on the island of Cherso. Soon, however, he fled taking refuge in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

in 1509. Thanks to the intercession of his sons, he could return in Venice in 1509. His political ties soon gained him important administrative charges and created the basis for his future election as ''doge'' (6 July 1521). Aged by the time he assumed the throne, he led the Republic into the

Italian War of 1521 Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

, the only ally of

Francis I of France Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once ...

that did not abandon him. Following the French defeat at the Battle of Bicocca, however, he grew concerned about the course of the war; but he died in 1523, and it was left to his successor,

Andrea Gritti Andrea Gritti (17 April 1455 – 28 December 1538) was the Doge of the Venetian Republic from 1523 to 1538, following a distinguished diplomatic and military career. He started out as a successful merchant in Constantinople and transitioned into t ...

, to achieve a settlement with

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (Crown of Castile, Castil ...

. He was married to

Caterina Loredan Caterina Loredan of the noble House of Loredan, Loredan family was the Dogaressa of Republic of Venice, Venice from 1521 to 1523 by marriage to Antonio Grimani, Doge Antonio Grimani. Caterina was the sister of the previous Doge of Venice, Leonar ...

. Staley, Edgcumbe: The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges. London : T. W. Laurie
/ref> The doge's son,

Domenico Grimani Domenico Grimani (19 February 1461 – 27 August 1523) was an Italian nobleman, theologian and cardinal. Like most noble churchman of his era Grimani was an ecclesiastical pluralist, holding numerous posts and benefices. Desiderius Erasmus d ...

, who'd become a cardinal in 1493, survived him by just three months.

References

*. Republic of Venice admirals 1434 births 1523 deaths

Antonio Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular male ...

Republic of Venice people of the Ottoman–Venetian Wars Italian Renaissance people 16th-century Doges of Venice 15th-century Venetian people {{Italy-noble-stub