Antonio Grimani
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Italian (Venetian) School - Doge Antonio Grimani (1434–1523) - 608980 - National Trust.jpg
| name = Antonio Grimani
| office = Lifetime Doge of the Most Serene Republic of Venice
| term_start = 1521
| term_end = 1523
| predecessor = Leonardo Loredan
| successor = Andrea Gritti
| birth_date = 28 December 1434
| birth_place = Venice
| death_date = {{death date and age|1523|5|7|1434|12|28|df=yes}}
| death_place = Venice
| spouse = Caterina Loredan
| children = Domenico Grimani
| caption = Posthumous portrait of Grimani
}}
Image:Doge Antonio Grimani.png of Antonio Grimani.]]
Antonio Grimani (28 December 1434 – 7 May 1523) was the Doge of Venice from 1521 to 1523. He had previously served as commander of the Venetian navy.
Biography
He was born in Venice into a relatively poor, but noble Grimani family and in his early years he worked as a tradesman, soon becoming one of the most important ones in the city. In 1494 he was created capitano generale da mar (sea commander-in-chief), a relatively easy task as he had to lead the Venetian operations along the Adriatic coast in a peaceful period. But when in 1499 a new war between Venice and the Ottoman Empire broke out, his lack of experience led to two crushing defeats (Sapienza, 19 August, and Zonchio, six days later).
Grimani was threatened with the death penalty, but this was turned into a mild exile on the island of Cherso.Thubron, Colin. Venice (Time-Life series) (1980) Soon, however, he fled taking refuge in Rome in 1509.
Thanks to the intercession of his sons, he could return in Venice in 1509. His political ties soon gained him important administrative charges and created the basis for his future election as doge (6 July 1521).
Aged by the time he assumed the throne, he led the Republic into the Italian War of 1521, the only ally of Francis I of France that did not abandon him. Following the French defeat at the Battle of Bicocca, however, he grew concerned about the course of the war; but he died in 1523, and it was left to his successor, Andrea Gritti, to achieve a settlement with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
He was married to Caterina Loredan.[https://archive.org/stream/dogaressasofveni00stal#page/316/mode/2up Staley, Edgcumbe: The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges. London : T. W. Laurie] The doge's son, Domenico Grimani, who'd become a cardinal in 1493, survived him by just three months.
References
{{commons category|Antonio Grimani}}
- {{cite book|first=John Julius |last=Norwich|authorlink=John Julius Norwich|title=A History of Venice|location=New York|publisher=Vintage Books|year=1989|isbn= 0-679-72197-5}}.
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{{s-bef| before=Leonardo Loredan }}
{{s-ttl| title=Doge of Venice|years=1521–1523 }}
{{s-aft| after=Andrea Gritti }}
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{{Doge of Venice}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grimani, Antonio}}
Category:Republic of Venice admirals
Category:Republic of Venice people of the Ottoman–Venetian Wars
Category:Italian Renaissance people
Category:16th-century Doges of Venice
Category:15th-century Venetian people
Category:Ottoman–Venetian War (1499–1503)
Category:Captains General of the Sea
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