Marco Cornaro

Marco Cornaro (c. 1286–1368) came from one of Venice's old, rich families and made his fortune in the Egypt trade. In 1337, in the war against the Scaligeri, he became podestà of Padua after its negotiated handover.

As count of Zara he took refuge in the citadel when the city rose against Venice in May 1345, and was rescued; he later served as duke of Candia. In April 1355 patricians met in his house to answer Faliero's coup, and Cornaro headed the Republic between Faliero's execution on 17 April and Giovanni Gradenigo's election four days later.

His second wife Caterina's low birth hindered his election. Elected doge on 21 July 1365, he presided over economic growth overshadowed by losses to Genoa and the Ottomans, and died in January 1368.