Jacopo Contarini

Jacopo Contarini († 1280 ) was the 47th Doge of Venice. He ruled from 1275 until his abdication on March 6 in 1280.

Family

Jacopo Contarini was by Domenico Contarini I. the second of eight Doges from the extended family Contarini. In addition to the Doge, there were 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.

The Dogenamt

Jacopo Contarini was elected on September 6, 1275 Doge. He was already more than 80 years old and sickly, was so obviously an embarrassment candidate. In his political career he had been ambassador in Constantinople Opel and the Vatican, and he was procurator of San Marco. Contarini was married and had four sons.

During his short reign, there were quarrels with Rome for domination of Ancona, the newly elected Pope Nicholas III. claimed for himself, and who had in 1278 obtained a confirmation of his claims to the marks and names of Ancona by the German Emperor. With the threat of excommunication of Venice, tried his claims to give emphasis to the Pope. Perhaps because he a dispute with the Pope no longer felt grown, Contarini abdicated on March 6, 1280.

He died at the end of the year and was buried in the cloister of the Frari Church. His tomb has not survived, it was destroyed at the end of the 18th century.