Antonio Venier

Antonio Venier (c. 1330–1400), son of Nicolò Venier, came from a recently ennobled family with no famous ancestors or allies. He made his name in the wars against Genoa, serving around 1380 as provveditore of the Tenedos fortress and in 1381, on the eve of his election, as captain in Crete.

In October 1382 he became the 62nd Doge of Venice and held office until his death. He had a name as a rigid judge, and his reign bore it out: he was famed for incorruptibility and strict discipline.

In his eighteen years the economy recovered and flourished, alliances extended Venetian rule into the Veneto hinterland, and in his last years Venice first clashed with the Ottoman Empire. He died on 23 November 1400 and was buried at Santi Giovanni e Paolo.