Antonio Grimani (28 December 1434 – 7 May 1523) was the

Doge A doge ( , ; plural dogi or doges) was an elected lord and head of state in several Italian city-states, notably Venice and Genoa, during the medieval and renaissance periods. Such states are referred to as " crowned republics". Etymology The ...

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...

from 1521 to 1523. He had previously served as commander of the Venetian Navy.

Biography

He was born in

into a relatively poor, but noble

Grimani family The House of Grimani was a prominent Venetian patrician family, including three Doges of Venice. They were active in trade, politics and later the ownership of theatres and opera-houses. Notable members included: Notable members * Domenico Gri ...

and in his early years he worked as a tradesman, soon becoming one of the most important ones in the city. In 1494 he was created '' capitano generale da mar'' (sea commander-in-chief), a relatively easy task as he had to lead the Venetian operations along the Adriatic coast in a peaceful period. But when in 1499 a new war between Venice and the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

broke out, his lack of experience led to two crushing defeats (Sapienza, 19 August, and

Zonchio Pylos (, ; el, Πύλος), historically also known as Navarino, is a town and a former Communities and Municipalities of Greece, municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has ...

, six days later). Grimani was threatened with the death penalty, but this was turned into a mild exile on the island of

Cherso Cherso (, old name: Hersovo / Hirsova) is a village in the Kilkis region of Greece. It is situated in the municipal unit of Cherso, in the Kilkis municipality, within the Kilkis region of Central Macedonia. Since the 2011 local government refor ...

. Soon, however, he fled taking refuge in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

in 1509. Thanks to the intercession of his sons, he could return in Venice in 1509. His political ties soon gained him important administrative charges and created the basis for his future election as ''doge'' (6 July 1521). Aged by the time he assumed the throne, he led the Republic into the Italian War of 1521, the only ally of

Francis I of France Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin on ...

that did not abandon him. Following the French defeat at the

Battle of Bicocca The Battle of Bicocca or La Bicocca ( it, Battaglia della Bicocca) was fought on 27 April 1522, during the Italian War of 1521–26. A combined French and Venetian force under Odet de Foix, Vicomte de Lautrec, was decisively defeated by an I ...

, however, he grew concerned about the course of the war; but he died in 1523, and it was left to his successor, Andrea Gritti, to achieve a settlement with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. He was married to Caterina Loredan. Staley, Edgcumbe: The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges. London : T. W. Laurie
/ref> The doge's son, Domenico Grimani, who'd become a cardinal in 1493, survived him by just three months.

References

*. Republic of Venice admirals 1434 births 1523 deaths Antonio Republic of Venice people of the Ottoman–Venetian Wars Italian Renaissance people 16th-century Doges of Venice 15th-century Venetian people {{Italy-noble-stub