Nicolò Contarini facts for kids
Nicolò Contarini (born September 26, 1553 – died April 2, 1631) was the 97th Doge of Venice. He was chosen as Doge on January 18, 1630, and ruled for about 15 months until his death. Contarini was the Doge during a very difficult time for Venice. A terrible sickness called the Italian plague of 1629–1631 hit the city. This plague sadly caused the death of one-third of Venice's people.
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Who Was Nicolò Contarini?
Nicolò Contarini was born in the famous city of Venice. His parents were Giovanna Morosini and Giangabriele Contarini. His father was not a rich man, but he was very interested in learning and culture.
Early Life and Career
Nicolò Contarini himself loved to study philosophy. He quickly became known for being fair and honest. He worked in the government of the Republic of Venice. People respected how he managed public affairs.
In politics, he supported another important leader named Leonardo Donato. Venice had different political groups at the time. In late 1629, there were strong disagreements between supporters of Giovanni I Cornaro and Renier Zen. Contarini thought Cornaro was wrong about some things. However, he was never too harsh in his disagreement. This helped him earn the respect of Cornaro's supporters too.
Becoming the Doge
When Doge Cornaro died, choosing a new leader was very hard. The different political groups argued a lot. They voted many times, but couldn't agree on one person. In the end, Nicolò Contarini was chosen as a compromise candidate. This meant he was a choice that both sides could agree on. He became Doge on January 18, 1630.
Challenges During His Rule
Contarini's time as Doge started with some difficulties. Venetian soldiers were fighting in a war called the War of the Mantuan Succession. In May 1630, they lost an important battle at Valeggio. This war later ended with a peace agreement in October 1630, which was not very satisfying for Venice.
The Great Plague
Then, in June 1630, a terrible sickness arrived in Venice. It was the bubonic plague. The government quickly tried to stop it. They made sick people stay in quarantine (isolation). They also safely disposed of the bodies of those who died. But even with these efforts, thousands of people died.
A Promise for the Future
In October 1630, the city's leaders asked Doge Contarini to make a promise. He vowed to build a beautiful church to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. This church would be built once the plague was over. Sadly, Nicolò Contarini died in Venice on April 2, 1631. He passed away before the first stone of this church was laid. The church, known as Santa Maria della Salute, was built later and stands as a famous landmark in Venice today.
