19 Facts About Andrea Gritti

Andrea Gritti was the Doge of the Venetian Republic from 1523 to 1538, following a distinguished diplomatic and military career.

Andrea Gritti started out as a successful merchant in Constantinople and transitioned into the position of Bailo, a diplomatic role.

Andrea Gritti was arrested for espionage but was spared execution thanks to his good relationship with the Ottoman vizier.

Widowed, Andrea Gritti moved to the Ottoman capital, Constantinople, where he engaged in trade, particularly of cereals, often in partnership with the Genoese merchant Pantaleo Coresi.

Andrea Gritti enjoyed the guidance of his great-uncle, Battista Gritti, who gave him insight on important officials and traders.

Andrea Gritti's enterprise was successful and allowed him to live a prosperous life during his almost twenty-year stay in the city.

Andrea Gritti became a person of prominence in the Italian community of Galata, serving as head of the Venetian community.

Andrea Gritti enjoyed a good relationship with the Ottoman grand vizier, Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha, securing from him various accommodations and exemptions in exchange for frequent monetary donations, as well as the esteem of Ahmed Pasha's father-in-law, Sultan Bayezid II.

The post remained vacant, and Andrea Gritti assumed the task of representing Venice at the Ottoman court.

Andrea Gritti nevertheless spent 32 months in the fortress, along with other Venetian merchants, coming close to death due to the privations of this long imprisonment.

Andrea Gritti was released after a ransom of 2,400 ducats was paid, and returned to Venice.

In 1508, as the Republic's relations with the Holy Roman Empire broke down, leading to the outbreak of the War of the League of Cambrai, Andrea Gritti was appointed provveditore generale along with Giorgio Corner.

Andrea Gritti was appointed as provveditore generale to the Venetian field army, where he distinguished himself for his energy and capacity to endure hardship.

Andrea Gritti was immediately appointed as commander at Treviso, and soon gave proof of the Venetian resolve by recapturing Padua.

Andrea Gritti instituted a harsh suppression of anti-Venetian elements in Padua, with arrests, executions, confiscations of property, and the exile of over 300 people to Venice.

In 1510, following the death of Niccolo di Pitigliano, Andrea Gritti took command of Venice's army but was forced to withdraw to Venice by French advances.

Andrea Gritti continued as provveditore through end of the conflict.

Andrea Gritti attempted to maintain the neutrality of the Republic in the face of the continued struggle between Charles and Francis, urging both to turn their attention to the advances of the Ottoman Empire in Hungary.

Andrea Gritti acquired the Palazzo Pisani Andrea Gritti as his private residence in 1525.