Marina Nani (circa 1400–1473) was a

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 ...

of Venice by marriage to the Doge

Francesco Foscari Francesco Foscari (19 June 1373 – 1 November 1457) was the 65th Doge of the Republic of Venice from 1423 to 1457. His reign, the longest of all Doges in Venetian history, lasted 34 years, 6 months and 8 days, and coincided with the inception o ...

(r. 1423–1457). She was the daughter of Bartolommeo Nani and married Francesco Foscari in 1415. Her spouse was elected Doge in 1423. She would have been born in about 1400 and was one of the youngest dogaressas ever, as well as one of the few to give birth in office. She was crowned in an elaborate ceremony in 1427, when a crown was placed upon her head, and made a formal entry into the city. She was escorted during the ceremony by the marquis of Mantua and the marquis of Ferrara. Marina Nani played an active role during her husband's office, and few of the preceding or succeeding dogaressas participated so much in official representation and had such a visible public role as she. She is noted to have acted as an envoy to visiting female dignitaries or wives of visiting male dignitaries, showing them around Venice and thereby demonstrating its wealth and position and working as a diplomat forging alliances.
Women and Gender in Medieval Europe: An Encyclopedia
' In 1445, her son was accused of high treason and bribery, and her spouse was forced to have him exiled. Marina pleaded for him without success. This caused Francesco a depression, which made Pietro Loredani accuse him of being unsuitable for his office. Marina pleaded with Loredani, but he answered by accusing her of high treason and adultery. Francesco was deposed in 1457 and died shortly after. The authorities wished to give him a state funeral because he was popular and the public was not aware of how he had been deposed. Marina refused to give them his body. Eventually, she was forced to do so, but she refused to participate in the funeral. Maria Nani had a long widowhood and lived a peaceful life on substantial land she had inherited.

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References

* Staley, Edgcumbe:
The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges
', London : T. W. Laurie 15th-century Venetian people Dogaressas of Venice 1473 deaths 15th-century Venetian women Year of birth uncertain {{Italy-noble-stub