- Andrea Gritti
Andrea Gritti (1455 - 1538) was the Doge of Venice from 1523 to 1538, following a distinguished diplomatic and military career.
Gritti was born in
Bardolino , nearVerona . He spent much of his early life inConstantinople , looking after Venetian interests. In 1499, he was imprisoned on charges ofespionage , but escaped execution due to his friendship with thevizier , and was released several years later.In the early sixteenth century Venice lost nearly all its territory on the Italian mainland, and Gritti played an important part in the events connected with this loss and the eventual return to the "status quo ante".In 1509, after the Venetian defeat at the
Battle of Agnadello , Gritti was appointed asproveditor to the Venetian army inTreviso ; ordered by theCouncil of Ten to support revolts against the invaders, he successfully engineered the return ofPadua to Venetian hands, and its subsequent defence against the Emperor. In 1510, following the death ofNicolo di Pitigliano , Gritti took command of Venice's army, but was forced to withdraw to Venice by French advances. He continued as proveditor through end of theLeague of Cambrai and the subsequent war of the Holy League. In 1512, he led the negotiations with Francis I that resulted in Venice leaving the League and allying with France.Elected Doge in 1523, Gritti concluded a treaty with Charles V, ending Venice's active involvement in the
Italian Wars . He attempted to maintain the neutrality of the Republic in the face of the continued struggle between Charles and Francis, urging both to turn their attention to the advances of theOttoman Empire inHungary . However, he could not preventSuleiman I from attackingCorfu in 1537, drawing Venice into a war with the Ottomans. He died in 1538.External links
*http://www.provincia.venezia.it/gritti/en/storia.htm
References
* Norwich, John Julius (1989). "A History of Venice". New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-72197-5.
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