Marino Zorzi

Coat-of-arms of Marino Zorzi

Marino Zorzi (c. 1231 – July 3, 1312), born in Venice, was the 50th Doge of the Republic of Venice, from August 23, 1311 to his death. He was married to Agneta Querini. Considered to have been a devout man, he had served as an ambassador to Rome. He may have been elected to decrease tensions in the city caused by the attempted revolt of Bajamonte Tiepolo as well as tensions with Rome, still angry with Venice over her occupation of the city of Ferrara (1308–09).

Zorzi had not been the first choice as Doge; Stefano Giustinian had been chosen first, but Giustinian had refused the honor. The elderly Zorzi did not succeed in re-establishing good relations with the Papacy and his short reign was characterized by several natural calamities. His reign lasted only eleven months, and Zorzi, considered a saint in his lifetime, died in 1312. His garments were sought after as holy relics.

His dogaressa, Agnese, is known to have intervened to have the silk-masters of Lucca train apprentices and supervise the production of silk fabris in the workshops of the Venetian Fragilia.^[1]

References

1. Staley, Edgcumbe: The dogaressas of Venice : The wives of the doges. London : T. W. Laurie