Lorenzo Celsi

Lorenzo Celsi (1310–1365) was a naval commander and diplomat from a family that had stayed out of public life, so his election as the 58th doge of Venice on 16 July 1361 came as a surprise. Deadlocked electors settled on him for his victories over the Genoese.

As captain of the sea in 1353 he took Genoese ships. From 1359 he was ambassador to Emperor Charles IV, seeking recognition of Venetian rule over Treviso.

His reign saw a feud over the ruling oligarchy and the Cretan revolt of 1363, whose suppression he celebrated lavishly. His style was sovereign: a servant walked before him with a rod like a sceptre. The Council of Ten put him on trial around his death in July 1365; he left only daughters and was buried at Santa Maria della Celestia.