Alvise Contarini
Encyclopedia
Alvise Contarini was the 106th Doge of Venice
, reigning from his election on August 26, 1676 until his death seven and a half years later. He was the eighth and final member of the House of Contarini to serve as Doge of Venice (with the first being Domenico I Contarini
, who became Doge in 1043).
His reign was largely peaceful, as the Republic of Venice
was still recovering from the Cretan War (1645–1669)
. However, in the last days of Contarini's reign, hostilities with the Ottoman Empire
were rekindled, and Venice began its participation in the Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War, better known as the Morean War
(1684-1699).
, the third son of Nicolò Contarini and Elena Michiel; he was a nephew of Francesco Contarini
, the 95th Doge of Venice, who had a one-year reign 1623-24. Alvise Contarini never married, dedicating his whole life to public service. He served as Venice's ambassador
to France
, Spain
, the Dutch Republic
, and to the Papal court
. The King of France granted Contarini the title of chevalier
.
During his time as savio
, Contarini supported the party in the Great Council that called for a continuation of the war
with the Ottoman Empire
.
Upon the death of Nicolò Sagredo
on August 14, 1676, it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would be succeeded as Doge by his popular brother Giovanni Sagredo. Giovanni Sagredo quickly secured the votes of thirty of the forty electors. His opponents, however, believed he had used fraudulent means to do so, and they therefore rioted. Alarmed, the Great Council chose forty new electors, and when these electors met on August 26, 1676, they decided on Alvise Contarini as a compromise candidate.
Most of Contarini's reign as Doge was occupied with festivities and fun, and he made little attempt to exercise strong dogal powers. Contarini did, however, oversee a major judicial reform in the early part of his reign. Many new relics were brought from Crete
(now under Ottoman control) and installed in Venetian churches during Contarini's reign.
Several notable firsts occurred in Contarini's reign. On June 25, 1678, Venetian mathematician
Elena Cornaro Piscopia
became the first woman in the world to receive a Doctor of Philosophy
degree
(from the University of Padua
). In a first of a very different sort, Venice's first coffeehouse
opened in 1683, and drinking coffee
soon became immensely popular.
In terms of foreign policy, these were anxious years for Venice. Venetians watched the progress of the Great Turkish War
closely, as Venice's enemy, the Ottoman Empire, conquered territory from the Habsburgs
, (including all of the Balkans
by 1682) before finally being halted by the forces of John III Sobieski
at the Battle of Vienna
on September 12, 1683. Discussions about entering the war on the side of the Habsburgs dominated 1683. Contarini died on January 15, 1684, shortly before Venice decided to enter the war, thus beginning the Morean War
(1684-1699).
Alvise Contarini was buried in the Contarini family chapel in the church of San Francesco della Vigna
. There is a bust
of Alvise Contarini on his tomb.
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
, reigning from his election on August 26, 1676 until his death seven and a half years later. He was the eighth and final member of the House of Contarini to serve as Doge of Venice (with the first being Domenico I Contarini
Domenico I Contarini
Domenico Contarini was the 30th Doge of Venice. His reign lasted from his election following the death of Domenico Flabanico in 1043 until his own death in 1071. During his reign, the Venetians recaptured Zadar and parts of Dalmatia that had been lost to the Kingdom of Croatia in the previous few...
, who became Doge in 1043).
His reign was largely peaceful, as the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
was still recovering from the Cretan War (1645–1669)
Cretan War (1645–1669)
The Cretan War or War of Candia , as the Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War is better known, was a conflict between the Republic of Venice and her allies against the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary States, fought over the island of Crete, Venice's largest and richest overseas possession...
. However, in the last days of Contarini's reign, hostilities with the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
were rekindled, and Venice began its participation in the Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War, better known as the Morean War
Morean War
The Morean War is the better known name for the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War. The war was fought between 1684–1699, as part of the wider conflict known as the "Great Turkish War", between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire...
(1684-1699).
Biography
He was born in VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, the third son of Nicolò Contarini and Elena Michiel; he was a nephew of Francesco Contarini
Francesco Contarini
Francesco Contarini was the 95th Doge of Venice, reigning from September 8, 1623 until his death fourteen months later.-Background, 1556-1623:...
, the 95th Doge of Venice, who had a one-year reign 1623-24. Alvise Contarini never married, dedicating his whole life to public service. He served as Venice's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
, and to the Papal court
Papal court
The Papal Household or Pontifical Household , called until 1968 the Papal Court , consists of dignitaries who assist the Pope in carrying out particular ceremonies of either a religious or a civil character....
. The King of France granted Contarini the title of chevalier
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
.
During his time as savio
Savio
Savio can mean:* Savio , an Italian river* Savio, sector of Kerava town in Finland, and a railway station located in the sector* Savio, Buenos Aires, a settlement in Escobar Partido, Argentina...
, Contarini supported the party in the Great Council that called for a continuation of the war
Cretan War (1645–1669)
The Cretan War or War of Candia , as the Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War is better known, was a conflict between the Republic of Venice and her allies against the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary States, fought over the island of Crete, Venice's largest and richest overseas possession...
with the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
Upon the death of Nicolò Sagredo
Nicolò Sagredo
Nicolò Sagredo was the 105th Doge of Venice, reigning from February 6, 1675 until his death less than two years later...
on August 14, 1676, it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would be succeeded as Doge by his popular brother Giovanni Sagredo. Giovanni Sagredo quickly secured the votes of thirty of the forty electors. His opponents, however, believed he had used fraudulent means to do so, and they therefore rioted. Alarmed, the Great Council chose forty new electors, and when these electors met on August 26, 1676, they decided on Alvise Contarini as a compromise candidate.
Most of Contarini's reign as Doge was occupied with festivities and fun, and he made little attempt to exercise strong dogal powers. Contarini did, however, oversee a major judicial reform in the early part of his reign. Many new relics were brought from Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
(now under Ottoman control) and installed in Venetian churches during Contarini's reign.
Several notable firsts occurred in Contarini's reign. On June 25, 1678, Venetian mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
Elena Cornaro Piscopia
Elena Cornaro Piscopia
Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia was a Venetian philosopher of noble descent, and the first woman to receive a degree.She was born in the Palazzo Loredan, at Venice, Republic of Venice on 5 June 1646. She was the third child of Giovanni Battista Cornaro-Piscopia, and his wife Zanetta Boni. ...
became the first woman in the world to receive a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
(from the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
). In a first of a very different sort, Venice's first coffeehouse
Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
opened in 1683, and drinking coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
soon became immensely popular.
In terms of foreign policy, these were anxious years for Venice. Venetians watched the progress of the Great Turkish War
Great Turkish War
The Great Turkish War refers to a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and contemporary European powers, then joined into a Holy League, during the second half of the 17th century.-1667–1683:...
closely, as Venice's enemy, the Ottoman Empire, conquered territory from the Habsburgs
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, (including all of the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
by 1682) before finally being halted by the forces of John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1674 until his death King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sobieski's 22-year-reign was marked by a period of the Commonwealth's stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of the Deluge and...
at the Battle of Vienna
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
on September 12, 1683. Discussions about entering the war on the side of the Habsburgs dominated 1683. Contarini died on January 15, 1684, shortly before Venice decided to enter the war, thus beginning the Morean War
Morean War
The Morean War is the better known name for the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War. The war was fought between 1684–1699, as part of the wider conflict known as the "Great Turkish War", between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire...
(1684-1699).
Alvise Contarini was buried in the Contarini family chapel in the church of San Francesco della Vigna
San Francesco della Vigna
San Francesco della Vigna is a Roman Catholic church in the Sestiere of Castello in Venice, northern Italy.-History:Along with Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, this is one of two Franciscan churches in Venice. The site, originally a vineyard , was donated by Marco Ziani in 1253 for construction of...
. There is a bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of Alvise Contarini on his tomb.