Giovanni Gradenigo

Giovanni Gradenigo was one of at least eight sons of Doge Bartolomeo Gradenigo (r. 1339–1342), probably born to the doge's first wife from the Cappello family.

Barbaro's genealogy records for him a successful career in political, military and diplomatic offices. His brothers held posts from rector of Chioggia to count of Traù, and such nepotism led the Great Council after 1342 to bar future doges from appointing their sons.