Francesco Contarini

Francesco Contarini († December 6, 1624 ) was the 95th Doge of Venice. He reigned from 1623 to 1624. During his reign, tensions with Spain and the Curia lasted because of the Valtellina to. However, the war did not affect the usual lavish celebrations in the city.

Family

Francesco Contarini comes from the branch of the Contarini della Porta di Ferro called (from the iron gate ), in the parish of Santa Giustina was established since the 15th century and had earned a considerable fortune with the England trade. From the various branches of the family a total of eight Doges were born, the first in the 11th century, the last of the late 18th century, there was also a large number of procurators, cardinals, patriarchs, scholars and admirals called Contarini.

Three women of the family were married to Dogen: Elisabetta Contarini Francesco Dandolo, Contarina Contarini Nicolò with Marcello and Cecilia Contarini with Sebastiano Venier.

Life

Francesco Contarini, the eldest of four sons of Bertucci and Lucia Dolfin had studied rhetoric, philosophy and law at the University of Padua. He was rich, educated and highly intelligent and was regarded as one of the top diplomat of the Republic. He had represented the Republic at the Vatican and in many courts of Europe, and had been honored with prestigious awards. King Henry IV of France made ​​him a Knight.

He was unmarried and had no children.

The Dogenamt

Contarini was procurator of San Marco chosen as he on September 8, 1623 at the age of 67 years in the office. During his reign, a hall of the Ducal Palace of Palma Giovane was equipped with frescoes.

He died after a long illness on December 6, 1624th

Tomb

He was buried in the church of San Francesco della Vigna. His epitaph and the Doge Alvise Contarini are in the Contarini Chapel of the church, which was remodeled in 1659 and 1744 baroque another time was renewed.