Agostino Barbarigo

Agostino Barbarigo, born on June third, fourteen nineteen, served as the Doge of Venice from fourteen eighty-six until his death in fifteen oh one. His tenure was marked by significant architectural achievements, including the completion of the imposing Clock Tower in the Piazza San Marco, which features an archway leading to the Merceria and the Rialto. Originally, a figure of the Doge was depicted kneeling before the lion of Venice atop the tower, but this was removed by the French in seventeen ninety-seven after Venice surrendered to Napoleon.

During his leadership, Barbarigo was instrumental in forming an Italian coalition in fourteen ninety-five to repel Charles the Eighth of France from Italy, culminating in the Battle of Fornovo during the French retreat. Under his rule, Venice expanded its influence, gaining strongholds in Romagna and annexing the island of Cyprus. However, his relationships with the Ottoman sultan Bayezid the Second began amicably but soured by fourteen ninety-two, leading to open conflict in fourteen ninety-nine.

The Venetian merchants in Istanbul faced arrests, and Bosnian troops invaded Dalmatia, reaching Zara. The Venetian fleet suffered a defeat at the Battle of Zonchio, resulting in the loss of Lepanto, followed by Modone and Corone, which eliminated crucial stops for Venetian ships sailing towards the Levante. Despite his personal opposition, Barbarigo agreed to the Treaty of Blois in February fourteen ninety-nine, forming a military alliance with Louis the Twelfth of France against the Duchy of Milan, which he viewed as a distraction from the Ottoman threat.

Barbarigo's dogaressa was Elisabetta Soranzo, and he followed in the footsteps of his brother Marco Barbarigo, who had a brief tenure as Doge. Their shared tomb, originally located in the church of the Carita, has since been demolished, although a relief depicting the Resurrection of Christ remains in the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista, attributed to the workshop of Antonio Rizzo.