Francesco Molin

Francesco Molin, and Francesco da Molin, (* April 21, 1575, † February 27, 1655 ) was the 99th Doge of Venice. He reigned from 1646 to 1655. During his reign the status of Nobile was for sale with the right of Dogenwahl.

Life

Francesco Molin Molin was the son of Marino and his wife Paola from the house Barbarigo. Molin had undergone a brilliant military career. He fought against the pirates in the Adriatic Sea and against papal troops at Ferrara. He was Provveditore for Dalmatia and finally procurator di supra. 1645 he had been appointed for the second time in his career captain-general, but could not take office due to illness. Despite his numerous health complaints, of which he was plagued throughout his tenure, he was elected on January 20, 1646 Doge. He was not married and left his fortune to his nephew.

The Dogenamt

Under Molin, tensions with the Ottoman Empire, which is focused primarily on the ownership of Crete next to the domination of the eastern Mediterranean continued, unchanged. While trying Venetian diplomacy repeatedly to an agreement with the Sultan to come, but since both parties were adamant in Crete question, these attempts were all unsuccessful.

The constant skirmishes and battles on land and at sea had exhausted the coffers of the Republic. The usual means to squeeze more money out of the Jewish community in the ghetto, failed because the had Jewish to wear as well as the Venetian merchants heavy losses because the familiar trade routes had adversely changed: on the one hand, dominated the Turks the Black Sea and a wide range the Levant, on the other hand, the Mediterranean trade was increasing handled by English merchantmen through the port of Livorno.

A new source was discovered in the sale of titles of nobility. Have been previously flowed plenty of money in the award of attorney gates Office - up to 20,000 ducats - so the price of entry into the Maggior consiglio should have amounted to 100,000 ducats. The resistance against a venal membership was with the many impoverished noblemen, where a little influence and prestige was left by the membership of the Great Council still, according violently. We met them and promised a pro forma commitment on the individual case must depend.

Venice still glamorous appearance became more and more a mere backdrop that covered up the weakness and decadence of the Serenissima.