Francesco Dandolo

Francesco Dandolo (c. 1258–1339), one of Venice's ablest diplomats, was ambassador at Avignon to Popes Clement V and John XXII. He won the nickname Cane, or dog, by appearing before the pope in a chain to plead for lifting Venice's excommunication.

Elected the fifty-second doge on 4 January 1329, he fought Mastino II della Scala of Verona for the Veneto trade routes, allying Venice with Florence and other cities against Verona's grip on river traffic.

The peace of 1337 to 1339 brought Treviso and Mestre under Venetian rule and launched Venice's expansion on the Italian mainland. Dandolo died on 1 November 1339 and was buried in the Frari.