Bertuccio Valiero
Encyclopedia
Bertuccio Valiero was the 102nd Doge of Venice
, reigning from his election on June 15, 1656 until his death.
, who would himself serve as Doge of Venice from 1694 to 1700. He suffered health problems throughout his life.
Valiero was very wealthy, which allowed him to obtain prestigious posts in Venetian
politics
and diplomacy
. He served as podestà
of various towns in Venice's terra firma
, and as Venetian Ambassador
to the Vatican
during the pontificate of Pope Alexander VII
.
with the Ottoman Empire
for possession of Crete
, which had been ongoing since 1645. Upon the death of Doge Carlo Contarini
on May 1, 1656, Valiero became a candidate as Doge. On May 17, 1656, however, he lost the election to Francesco Cornaro
, who promptly died nineteen days later. A second election was held on June 15, and Valiero was unanimously elected as Doge on the first ballot. He was already in ill health and would be dead less than two years later, meaning Venice, in the midst of its war, would have seen five Doges in the space of four years.
During Valiero's reign, the Most Serene Republic proposed terms for ending the Cretan War, but these were rejected by the Ottoman Empire. Valiero ordered a Venetian fleet to sail through the Dardanelles
to attack Istanbul
, in the hopes that this would at least relieve the pressure on the Siege of Candia
; this expedition had only limited success.
Desperate for money with which to fund the war, in 1655, Valiero allowed the Jesuits, who had been expelled from the Venetian Republic by Leonardo Donato
in 1606, to return in exchange for a cash payment. Venice was desperate for funds, and, despite the fact that Valiero contributed 10,000 ducats of his own money, Venice was nearly insolvent.
Valiero succumbed to sickness on March 29, 1658, aged only 61. He was interred in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, a traditional burial place of the doges. His son, Silvestro Valiero
, was his sole legatee
. Silvestro Valiero would later have a massive monumental tomb built in the Basilica, and Bertuccio Valiero's remains were also placed there. Thus, father and son, and their wives, are buried together.
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 June 15, 1656 until his death.
Background, 1596-1656
Bertuccio Valiero was the son of Silvestro Valiero and Bianca Priuli. We are not certain how he was educated, but he had a reputation as being cultivated and refine. He married Benedetta Pisani, and the couple had many children together. All of Valiero's children predeceased him except for his son Silvestro ValieroSilvestro Valiero
Silvestro Valiero or Valier was the 109th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on February 25, 1694 until his death six years later...
, who would himself serve as Doge of Venice from 1694 to 1700. He suffered health problems throughout his life.
Valiero was very wealthy, which allowed him to obtain prestigious posts in Venetian
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...
politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
. He served as podestà
Podestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
of various towns in Venice's terra firma
Terra firma
Terra firma is a Latin phrase meaning "solid earth" . The phrase refers to the dry land mass on the earth's surface and is used to differentiate from the sea or air.Terra Firma may also refer to:...
, and as Venetian 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
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....
during the pontificate of Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
.
Reign as Doge, 1656-1658
Valiero became Doge in the midst of a prolonged warCretan 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...
for possession of 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...
, which had been ongoing since 1645. Upon the death of Doge Carlo Contarini
Carlo Contarini
Carlo Contarini was the 100th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on March 27, 1655 until his death a little over a year later.-Background 1580-1655:...
on May 1, 1656, Valiero became a candidate as Doge. On May 17, 1656, however, he lost the election to Francesco Cornaro
Francesco Cornaro (Doge)
Francesco Cornaro or Francesco Corner was the 101st Doge of Venice. His reign as Doge was the shortest of any Doge. He was elected on May 17, 1656, and died only a few weeks later, on June 5, 1656....
, who promptly died nineteen days later. A second election was held on June 15, and Valiero was unanimously elected as Doge on the first ballot. He was already in ill health and would be dead less than two years later, meaning Venice, in the midst of its war, would have seen five Doges in the space of four years.
During Valiero's reign, the Most Serene Republic proposed terms for ending the Cretan War, but these were rejected by the Ottoman Empire. Valiero ordered a Venetian fleet to sail through the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
to attack Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, in the hopes that this would at least relieve the pressure on the Siege of Candia
Siege of Candia
The Siege of Candia was a military conflict in which Ottoman forces besieged the Venetian-ruled city and were ultimately victorious. Lasting from 1648 to 1669, it was the longest siege in history.-Background:...
; this expedition had only limited success.
Desperate for money with which to fund the war, in 1655, Valiero allowed the Jesuits, who had been expelled from the Venetian Republic by Leonardo Donato
Leonardo Donato
Leonardo Donà, or Donato was the 90th Doge of Venice, reigning from January 10, 1606 until his death...
in 1606, to return in exchange for a cash payment. Venice was desperate for funds, and, despite the fact that Valiero contributed 10,000 ducats of his own money, Venice was nearly insolvent.
Valiero succumbed to sickness on March 29, 1658, aged only 61. He was interred in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, a traditional burial place of the doges. His son, Silvestro Valiero
Silvestro Valiero
Silvestro Valiero or Valier was the 109th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on February 25, 1694 until his death six years later...
, was his sole legatee
Legatee
A legatee, in the law of wills, is any individual or organization bequeathed any portion of a testator's estate.-Usage:Depending upon local custom, legatees may be called "devisees." Traditionally, "legatees" took personal property under will and "devisees" took land under will. Brooker v....
. Silvestro Valiero would later have a massive monumental tomb built in the Basilica, and Bertuccio Valiero's remains were also placed there. Thus, father and son, and their wives, are buried together.