Giovanni Pesaro
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Pesaro was the 103rd Doge of Venice
, reigning from his election on April 8, 1658 until his death. The Cretan War (1645–1669)
was ongoing for the entirety of his brief reign.
to the Doge, as a member of the Senate of Venice, and then serving as the Republic of Venice
's Ambassador
to the Vatican
, prior to serving as Procurator of San Marco
.
In spite of all of these honours, his reputation was far from spotless. In 1642, he abandoned the garrison
of Pontelagoscuro (a frazione
of Ferrara
), which he was commanding, in the face of the enemy. In the years following this incident, he was implicated of embezzlement
and abuse of office. As rector
, he appropriated land owned by a citizen for himself. Following the death of his wife Lucia Barbarigo
, Pesaro married his housekeeper
, a low born woman whose brother was a criminal banished from the republic.
In spite of these disabilities, Pesaro managed to work his way into the mainstream of Venetian politics. With the war against the Ottoman Empire
at a low point, and many Venetian nobles considering giving up Crete
, Pesaro gave an impassioned speech in the Maggior Consiglio (Grand Council) in favour of continuing the war, in the course of which he pledged 6000 ducats of his own money. This action inspired the other nobles to continue the war. His militant attitude won him great favour, and, following the death of Doge Bertuccio Valiero
on March 29, 1658, Pesaro was the consensus candidate for new Doge
.
Pesaro faced a difficult situation on becoming Doge. The war had displaced Venice's commerce, and Venice was heavily overtaxed to pay for the war.
Pesaro died on September 30, 1659, and was buried with great pomp.
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 April 8, 1658 until his death. 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...
was ongoing for the entirety of his brief reign.
Background, 1589-1658
Giovanni Pesaro was the son of Elena Soranzo and Vettor Pesaro, a rich man. He rose to prominence quickly, being repeatedly elected as consigliereConsigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
to the Doge, as a member of the Senate of Venice, and then serving 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...
'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 the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, prior to serving as Procurator of San Marco
Procurator of San Marco
The office of Procurator of San Marco was the second most prestigious life appointment in the Republic of Venice .-History:...
.
In spite of all of these honours, his reputation was far from spotless. In 1642, he abandoned the garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
of Pontelagoscuro (a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
), which he was commanding, in the face of the enemy. In the years following this incident, he was implicated of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
and abuse of office. As rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, he appropriated land owned by a citizen for himself. Following the death of his wife Lucia Barbarigo
Barbarigo
Barbarigo is the name of surname of several notable individuals, as well as the name of two submarines.* Marco Barbarigo Doge of Venice from 1485-1486* Agostino Barbarigo Doge of Venice from 1486-1501, brother of Marco Barbarigo...
, Pesaro married his housekeeper
Housekeeper (servant)
A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence, including direction of subordinate maids...
, a low born woman whose brother was a criminal banished from the republic.
In spite of these disabilities, Pesaro managed to work his way into the mainstream of Venetian politics. With the war against 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...
at a low point, and many Venetian nobles considering giving up 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...
, Pesaro gave an impassioned speech in the Maggior Consiglio (Grand Council) in favour of continuing the war, in the course of which he pledged 6000 ducats of his own money. This action inspired the other nobles to continue the war. His militant attitude won him great favour, and, following the death of Doge Bertuccio Valiero
Bertuccio Valiero
Bertuccio Valiero was the 102nd Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on June 15, 1656 until his death.-Background, 1596-1656:...
on March 29, 1658, Pesaro was the consensus candidate for new Doge
Doge
Doge is a dialectal Italian word that descends from the Latin dux , meaning "leader", especially in a military context. The wife of a Doge is styled a Dogaressa....
.
Reign as Doge, 1658-1659
On April 8, 1658, Pesaro was elected as Doge on the first ballot, not least because he was considerably younger than his opponents, and it was hoped that he would have a longer reign than had his predecessors, a wish regrettably unfulfilled. Pesaro was hated by the people of Venice, and fell ill soon after his election as Doge.Pesaro faced a difficult situation on becoming Doge. The war had displaced Venice's commerce, and Venice was heavily overtaxed to pay for the war.
Pesaro died on September 30, 1659, and was buried with great pomp.