- Bartolomeo Gradenigo
Bartolomeo Gradenigo (1259 or
1260 -December 28 ,1342 ) was doge of Venice fromNovember 7 ,1339 until his death.Biography
Born in
Venice to an ancient noble family, he was a rich tradesman. Gradenigo devoted to politics very early in his life, acting aspodestà ofRagusa andCapodistria , as well as "procuratore" in the capital. He also became soon renowned for his excessive love for luxury. He married three times and had six children.His short reign was rather peaceful, apart from a revolt in
Crete and some Turkish incursions. It was also characterized by some diplomatic moves towardsGenoa . The most important event was the tempest that struck against Venice on1340-02-15 and which, according to legend, was pushed back only through the supernatural intercession of St. Mark,St. George andSt. Nicholas , brought to the lagoon by a humble fisherman. After the storm had disappeared, the three saints gave the fisherman a ring, called "Ring of the Fisherman", which he gifted the doges and since then has been part of the ducal jewelry. In fact, Bartolomeo appears in the paintingThe Presentation of the Ring byParis Bordone which shows the fisherman presenting the ring to him.ources
*Claudio Rendina, "I dogi di Venezia", Newton Compton, Rome, 1984.
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