Silvestro Valiero
Encyclopedia
Silvestro Valiero or Valier (Venice
, March 28, 1630 - Venice, July 7, 1700) was the 109th Doge of Venice
, reigning from his election on February 25, 1694 until his death six years later. The Morean War
between the Republic of Venice
and the Ottoman Empire
, which had been ongoing since 1684, came to an end during Valiero's reign as Doge, in January 1699.
, who had served as Doge
from 1656 to 1658. On August 8, 1649, in the church of Santa Maria Formosa
, Silvestro Valiero was married to Elisabetta Querini; Valiero was only 19 years old. Valiero then became procurator by purchasing the office. According to his chroniclers, Valiero did not possess any special talents, but he was handsome, and a good speaker. Throughout his career, he was most interested in the diplomatic affairs of the Most Serene Republic, and where his good looks and way with words proved useful. Valiero was a lover of the good life, but he was also generous to the poor and thereby gained their affections.
died on January 16, 1694. Morosini, a military hero before becoming Doge, had been the rare seventeenth-century Doge of Venice who was active on the battlefield. However, on his death, with the Republic still embroiled in war and facing massive economic difficulties, Venetians decided to elect someone who was not very ambitious. They therefore elected Silvestro Valiero on February 25, 1694, and he celebrated by paying for lavish celebrations and banquets. Although the Grand Council had, in 1645, abolished the elaborate ceremony for installing a new dogaressa, because of its large expense to the state and to the Doge, Valiero convinced the Council to grant an exception. As such, on March 4, 1694, Elisabetta Querini appeared clad in a cloth of gold
robe adorned with sable
, with a white veil
and corno ducale, (the version of ducal crown
worn by the Doge and his wife) adorned with jewels, and a large diamond
cross
on her chest.. Together Valiero and his wife sat on the throne of Venice and received counselors, ministers, judges, and the capis of the Ten
.
Venice's war with the Ottoman Empire - the Morean War
- was only one part of the Ottoman Empire's struggle against the Holy League of 1684
. On September 11, 1697, Ottoman forces were defeated by troops of the Holy Roman Empire
and the Kingdom of Hungary
at the Battle of Zenta
. This decisive battle led to the Ottoman Empire's determination to end the Great Turkish War
, and peace negotiations began at Sremski Karlovci
. These negotiations eventually produced the Treaty of Karlowitz
, signed January 26, 1699 and ending the Great Turkish War, including the Morean War. Under the Treaty, Venice received the Morea
, Aegina
, Lefkada
, and Zakynthos
. Most Venetians felt they gained far too little territory to compensate for the huge loss of life and expense of the wars with the Ottoman Empire. The Republic was exhausted by the long war and facing economic distress, but little changed for Valiero, and he continued hosting banquets, receptions, and parties at which he entertained persons of rank.
Already sick, Valiero's last days were made worse by a series of family disputes. He died on July 7, 1700. He was buried in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, where twenty-four other doges also found their resting place. Between 1705 and 1708, a huge tomb was built in the Basilica for Valiero, his wife, and his father. The tomb consists on either side of two large Corinthian columns of black marble
. The tomb was designed by architect Andrea Tirali
, and contained sculptures from Antonio Tarsia
, Pietro Baratta
, and others, and the bas relief was overseen by Gruppello Marino.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, March 28, 1630 - Venice, July 7, 1700) was the 109th Doge of Venice
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 February 25, 1694 until his death six years later. The Morean War
Morean War
The Morean War is the better known name for the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War. The war was fought between 1684–1699, as part of the wider conflict known as the "Great Turkish War", between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire...
between 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...
and 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...
, which had been ongoing since 1684, came to an end during Valiero's reign as Doge, in January 1699.
Background, 1630-1694
Silvestro Valiero was the son of Bertuccio ValieroBertuccio Valiero
Bertuccio Valiero was the 102nd Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on June 15, 1656 until his death.-Background, 1596-1656:...
, who had served as 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....
from 1656 to 1658. On August 8, 1649, in the church of Santa Maria Formosa
Santa Maria Formosa
Santa Maria Formosa is a church in Venice, northern Italy. It was erected in 1492 under the design by Renaissance architect Mauro Codussi. It lies on the site of a former church dating from the 7th century, which, according to tradition, was one of the eight founded by San Magno, bishop of Oderzo...
, Silvestro Valiero was married to Elisabetta Querini; Valiero was only 19 years old. Valiero then became procurator by purchasing the office. According to his chroniclers, Valiero did not possess any special talents, but he was handsome, and a good speaker. Throughout his career, he was most interested in the diplomatic affairs of the Most Serene Republic, and where his good looks and way with words proved useful. Valiero was a lover of the good life, but he was also generous to the poor and thereby gained their affections.
Reign as Doge, 1694-1700
Doge Francesco MorosiniFrancesco Morosini
Francesco Morosini was the Doge of Venice from 1688 to 1694, at the height of the Great Turkish War...
died on January 16, 1694. Morosini, a military hero before becoming Doge, had been the rare seventeenth-century Doge of Venice who was active on the battlefield. However, on his death, with the Republic still embroiled in war and facing massive economic difficulties, Venetians decided to elect someone who was not very ambitious. They therefore elected Silvestro Valiero on February 25, 1694, and he celebrated by paying for lavish celebrations and banquets. Although the Grand Council had, in 1645, abolished the elaborate ceremony for installing a new dogaressa, because of its large expense to the state and to the Doge, Valiero convinced the Council to grant an exception. As such, on March 4, 1694, Elisabetta Querini appeared clad in a cloth of gold
Cloth of gold
Cloth of gold is a fabric woven with a gold-wrapped or spun weft - referred to as "a spirally spun gold strip". In most cases, the core yarn is silk wrapped with a band or strip of high content gold filé...
robe adorned with sable
Sable
The sable is a species of marten which inhabits forest environments, primarily in Russia from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, in northern Mongolia and China and on Hokkaidō in Japan. Its range in the wild originally extended through European Russia to Poland and Scandinavia...
, with a white veil
Veil
A veil is an article of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, that is intended to cover some part of the head or face.One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space...
and corno ducale, (the version of ducal crown
Ducal hat
The ducal hat of the Duchy of Styria is a jagged crown made out of silver-gilt. Believed to be produced in the 15th century, it was refashioned with pearls and enameled in 1766....
worn by the Doge and his wife) adorned with jewels, and a large diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
on her chest.. Together Valiero and his wife sat on the throne of Venice and received counselors, ministers, judges, and the capis of the Ten
Council of Ten
The Council of Ten, or simply the Ten, was, from 1310 to 1797, one of the major governing bodies of the Republic of Venice whose actions were often secretive. Although some sources may indicate that the Council of Ten was generally accepted in Venice, there was some opposition...
.
Venice's war with the Ottoman Empire - the Morean War
Morean War
The Morean War is the better known name for the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War. The war was fought between 1684–1699, as part of the wider conflict known as the "Great Turkish War", between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire...
- was only one part of the Ottoman Empire's struggle against the Holy League of 1684
Holy League (1684)
Holy League of 1684 was initiated in by Pope Innocent XI, and composed of the Holy Roman Empire, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Venetian Republic. Tsardom of Russia joined the League in 1686. This alliance opposed the Ottoman Empire in the Great Turkish War and lasted until the Treaty...
. On September 11, 1697, Ottoman forces were defeated by troops of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
at the Battle of Zenta
Battle of Zenta
The Battle of Zenta or Battle of Senta, fought on 11 September 1697 just south of Zenta , on the east side of the Tisza river, was a major engagement in the Great Turkish War and one of the most decisive defeats in Ottoman history...
. This decisive battle led to the Ottoman Empire's determination to end the Great Turkish War
Great Turkish War
The Great Turkish War refers to a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and contemporary European powers, then joined into a Holy League, during the second half of the 17th century.-1667–1683:...
, and peace negotiations began at Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci is a town and municipality in Serbia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, situated on the bank of the river Danube, 8 km from Novi Sad...
. These negotiations eventually produced the Treaty of Karlowitz
Treaty of Karlowitz
The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on 26 January 1699 in Sremski Karlovci , concluding the Austro-Ottoman War of 1683–1697 in which the Ottoman side had been defeated at the Battle of Zenta...
, signed January 26, 1699 and ending the Great Turkish War, including the Morean War. Under the Treaty, Venice received the Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
, Aegina
Aegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
, Lefkada
Lefkada
Lefkada, or Leucas or Leucadia , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Lefkada . It is situated on the northern part of the island,...
, and Zakynthos
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
. Most Venetians felt they gained far too little territory to compensate for the huge loss of life and expense of the wars with the Ottoman Empire. The Republic was exhausted by the long war and facing economic distress, but little changed for Valiero, and he continued hosting banquets, receptions, and parties at which he entertained persons of rank.
Already sick, Valiero's last days were made worse by a series of family disputes. He died on July 7, 1700. He was buried in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, where twenty-four other doges also found their resting place. Between 1705 and 1708, a huge tomb was built in the Basilica for Valiero, his wife, and his father. The tomb consists on either side of two large Corinthian columns of black marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. The tomb was designed by architect Andrea Tirali
Andrea Tirali
Andrea Tirali was an Italian architect working in Venice and the Veneto. He is known to have worked at Villa Duodo and the Chiesa and Convento di San Nicolò at Tolentino, at Villa Duodo he added to the work of Vincenzo Scamozzi...
, and contained sculptures from Antonio Tarsia
Antonio Tarsia
Antonio Tarsia was an Italian sculptor. He was born in Venice.-References:...
, Pietro Baratta
Pietro Baratta
Pietro Baratta was an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period, active in Venice.He was master of the sculptor Francesco Robba.-Biography:...
, and others, and the bas relief was overseen by Gruppello Marino.