page_title: Domenico II Contarini
section_title: Reign as Doge, 1659-1675
hierarchical_section_title: Domenico II Contarini / Reign as Doge, 1659-1675
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Italia, Venezia. doge Domenico II Contarini. 1659-1675. AR Ducato Novo [Ducatello] (40mm, 22.65 g). monetario Angelo Dolfin. Coniato 1666/7. San Marco seduto in trono, benedicente e che offre lo stendardo al Doge inginocchiato; in esergo le iniziali del monetario: *A D* Leone nimbato ed alato stante sin., che tiene il Vangelo; avanti castello su montagna. English: Italy (Italian States), Venice. doge Domenico II Contarini. 1659-1675. AR Ducato Novo [Ducatello] (40mm, 22.65 g). Angelo Dolfin, mintmaster. Struck 1666/7. St. Mark seated right on throne, blessing and presenting banner to Doge kneeling left; *A D* in exergue Nimbate and winged lion standing left, head facing, holding Gospel in paw; castle on mountain before. References: Papadopoli 146; Scarfèa 960.
context_page_description: Domenico II Contarini was the 104th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on October 16, 1659 until his death.
context_section_description: A widower, Contarini retired to the Val Nogaredo to spend his final years in peace.
  But then, Doge Giovanni Pesaro died suddenly on September 30, 1659, with no obvious successor.  There were no strong candidates, only three weaklings: Alvise Contarini, Andrea Pisani, and Lorenzo Dolfin.  The electors were split.  According to the custom of the Republic of Venice, the Doge was elected by a group of 41 electors, chosen basically at random.  Unable to settle on one of the candidates, and dissatisfied with the selections available, a compromise was worked out, and, on the eighth ballot, cast on October 16, 1659, 40 votes were cast for Domenico Contarini, breaking the impasse, and recalling Contarini from his retirement.
  Many noblemen were furious at the election of Contarini.  The Cretan War (1645–1669), an attempt to recapture Crete from the Ottoman Empire, had been ongoing for ten years at this point, and these noblemen believed that a young, martial leader was needed, not a septuagenarian like Contarini.  Yet, throughout the seventeenth century, Venetian electors repeatedly preferred to elect old men as Doge so that the Doge did not grow too powerful: it was feared that a younger, more martial Doge would be likely to expand his power base and move the Most Serene Republic in a more monarchical direction.
  Although he was surprised by his election, Contarini was happy to accept the post.  He was popular with the people, who felt that he had never been overbearing during his public career.  In spite of his advanced age, Contarini's reign as Doge lasted for sixteen years, and during that time he was able to bring a measure of political stability to Venice after a period which had seen multiple Doges in a short period of time.  
  In Contarini's first decade as Doge, the war with the Ottoman Empire grew more intense.  The Siege of Candia had been ongoing from 1648, but many Venetians feared that if Candia was lost, this would mean the end of Venetian hegemony over the Mediterranean Sea and the beginning of Ottoman hegemony.  The Senate of Venice therefore vowed that Candia would never be taken.  Thus, the Venetian treasury was depleted, merchant families were ruined, thousands of Venetian men were killed, and yet the siege continued.  Domenico Contarini was widely praised in these years for his poise, and the nobility of his spirit, in carrying on the fight.
  In the end, however, Venice was no match for the Ottoman Empire.  On September 6, 1669, the provveditore of Candia, Francesco Morosini (appointed by Contarini in 1661, with his appointment renewed in 1667) was forced to sign terms of surrender.  Morosini faced charges of cowardice on his return to Venice, but, after a brief trial, he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
  In all, the Cretan War cost Venice some 134 million ducats and some 30,000 lives.  In return, it had cost the Ottomans over 80,000 casualties and millions of ducats, all for a campaign that the Ottomans had thought would last only a few months.
  After the unpleasantness of the Morosini trial (1670), Contarini found some happiness in his later years.  Shortly after the ending of the war, Contarini's grandson Angelo (named after his late brother) married Elena Nani, and the young couple gave birth to a son, Giulio Felice, who was baptized in 1671.
  Little else of note happened during Contarini's reign.  After many years of war, Venice attempted to re-establish merchant routes and to balance its budget.
  Contarini spent the last year and a half of his life bedridden, and finally died on January 26, 1675, at the age of 90.
caption: 1666 coin depicting Domenico Contarini.
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