Francesco Contarini, 95th doge of Venice

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Contarini

Francesco Contarini (Venice, November 28, 1556 – Venice, December 6, 1624) was the 95th Doge of Venice, reigning from September 8, 1623 until his death fourteen months later.

Francesco Contarini was the son of Bertucci Contarini and Laura Dolfin. Both of his parents died while he was young, leaving him as an orphan who was raised by his two older brothers. The three brothers had inherited a substantial fortune, and no expense was spared on Francesco Contarini's education.

A lover of travel, Contarini was sent on several diplomatic missions, representing the Republic of Venice in many European courts. He was the bailo in Constantinople from 1602 to 1604.[1] A man of refined manners, he gained a reputation of always placing the needs of Venice above his own self-interest.

Ebbe tre fratelli, 

• Giovanni (1558-1620), che sarà capo del Consiglio dei dieci,
• Dolfin (1559-1587),
• Nicolò (1563-1648), che sarà pur egli capo dei Dieci ed un cui figlio,
  • Alvise, diverrà doge,
• ed una sorella, Contarina, sposa, nel 1587, ad Antonio Lando di Girolamo.

Il C. non va confuso col coevo 

*Francesco Contarini figlio naturale di Taddeo, prolifico autore e docente a Padova;

• ed è, altresì, da distinguere da altri omonimi quali il Francesco Contarini di Piero nella lista dei quaranta giovani nobili destinati al "servigio" di Enrico III in occasione del suo passaggio, nel 1574, per Venezia e, nel 1603-1604, capitano a Vicenza,
• e il Francesco Contarini di Luca Francesco all'inizio del Seicento sopracomito, quindi capitano a Zara e, poi, conte di Lesina.