Giovanniccia Candiano, also called Giuliana, was

Dogaressa Dogaressa ( , , ) was the official title of the wife of the Doge of Venice. The title was unique for Venice: while the head of the Republic of Genoa were also called Doge, the wives of the Doges of Genoa were not called ''Dogaressa'', nor did t ...

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

by her marriage to the

Doge A doge ( , ; plural dogi or doges) was an elected lord and head of state in several Italian city-states, notably Venice and Genoa, during the medieval and renaissance periods. Such states are referred to as " crowned republics". Etymology The ...

Pietro IV Candiano Pietro IV Candiano (925–976) was the twenty-second (traditional) or twentieth (historical) doge of Venice from 959 to his death. He was the eldest son of Pietro III Candiano, with whom he co-reigned and whom he was elected to succeed. Rise Pi ...

(r. 959–976) and mother of future doge

Vitale Candiano Vitale Candiano (died 979) was the 24th doge of the Republic of Venice. Biography He was the fourth son of the 21st doge, Pietro III Candiano, and Arcielda Candiano (sometimes given as Richielda). His brother the 22nd Doge Pietro IV and his y ...

. Giovanniccia was not a member of the aristocracy and was previously divorced when Pietro entered into a relationship with her, and when he made her dogaressa after his installation it caused a scandal and a social boycott which damaged the reputation of the doge. Eventually, Pietro was convinced to divorce her and imprison her as a nun in the convent of

San Zaccaria The Church of San Zaccaria is a 15th-century former monastic church in central Venice, Italy. It is a large edifice, located in the Campo San Zaccaria, just off the waterfront to the southeast of Piazza San Marco and St Mark's Basilica. It is ded ...

. She has been the subject of legends and myths. She is a part of a famous deck of cards featuring the dogaressas of Venice, as the Four of Hearts.

Sources

* Staley, Edgcumbe:
The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges
', London : T. W. Laurie, 1910

{{DEFAULTSORT:Candiano, Giovanniccia Dogaressas of Venice 10th-century Venetian people 10th-century Italian women Giovanniccia