Domenico I. Contarini

Domenico Contarini I. († 1071 in Venice) was the 30th Doge of Venice. He reigned from 1043 to 1071. During his reign the city of Zara in Dalmatia passed to Venice in the fleet was expanded, the economy flourished and the Republic was able to consolidate its political position in the Mediterranean.

Family

The Contarini are among the oldest families of Venice, her name is linked from the beginning with the history of the city. Demonstrated they are documented for the first time in the year 960, the family branched out over the centuries in more than 20 lines. Domenico was the first of the Contarini - Doge. Overall, the family set 8 Dogen and 44 procurators.

Life

After the conquest of the city of Zara, followed by Venice for a time of peace. Contarini maintained friendly relations with Byzantium, the Pope in Rome and the German Emperor Henry III. , Who confirmed the privileges granted to his predecessors.

Contarini acted as a generous donor of churches and monasteries such as San Nicolò di Gigli on the Lido di Sant'Angelo and Concordia. St. Mark's Basilica was broadly its present form as a Byzantine cross-domed church. Modification or new construction began around 1050 and was completed in 1071, shortly before his death. The of the cathedral with mosaics, incrustations, sculptures etc. Equipment was the work of future generations. The church served as the Doge palace chapel, and it was used as a site for public or political events, such as gathering of bodies or public representation of the Republic. In connection with the construction of the church of St. Mark the office of procurator was introduced by Contarini, in what was then the highest office in Venice after the Doge.

He was buried at his request in the church of San Nicolò di Lido. The grave was down to 16-17. Receive century and was only destroyed in the reconstruction of the church 1626-1629. At the Doge a bust from the 17th century on the facade of the church.