Dolfin

The Dolfin, also italianised as Delfino, were one of the twelve apostolic families of Venice, traditionally sharing an origin with the Gradenigo in the tribune families that fled Aquileia for Torcello in 452; the name is documented from 997. Before the Serrata of 1297 they were among the richest lineages of the republic.

Their only doge was Giovanni Dolfin, elected in 1356 while defending Treviso against a Hungarian army: he broke through the siege to reach Venice and take office. His reign saw Venice's defeat at Nervesa and the Treaty of Zadar of 1358, by which the republic lost Dalmatia, Zara and Split to King Louis I of Hungary, though it kept naval supremacy in the Adriatic.

In later centuries the house won renown as patrons of the arts. They employed Titian, Bellini and Tiepolo and hosted the composer Vivaldi.