FRANCESCO ERIZZO

 

DOGE 98°

(1631-1646)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT OF  ROLANDO MIRKO BORDIN

 

 

 

 

 

FRANCESCO ERIZZO WAS BORN IN VENICE THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY 1566, THE SECOND OF FOUR SONS OF GIOVANNI AND MARINA CONTARINI.

 

THANKS TO FRANCESCO ERIZZO, WHO WAS A PROSECUTOR AND THEN DOGE, THE FAMILY OF ANCIENT NOBILITY, WOULD BECOME VERY RICH, TOWARD THE FALL OF THE REPUBLIC OF VENICE, REACHING THE HIGHEST POSITIONS IN THE STATE.

 

FRANCESCO ERIZZO NEVER THOUGHT OF GETTING MARRIED, BUT HAD A NATURAL DAUGHTER, WHO WAS A NUN AT THE MONASTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH THE NAME OF MARIA BENEDETTA, AS SHOWN BY A LIFE ANNUITY DISPOSED IN HER FAVOR IN THE TESTAMENT OF 1635.

 

FRANCESCO ATTENDED COURSES IN PHILOSOPHY IN PADUA, WITHOUT RECEIVING HIS DOCTORATE.

 

1590

 

FRANCESCO ERIZZO, ON HIS RETURN TO VENICE, DEDICATED HIMSELF TO POLITICS, WHICH BEGAN WITH ‘SAVIATO AGLI ORDINI’, IN THE PERIOD FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER OF 1590.

 

1592-1595

 

IN THE DIFFICULT YEARS THAT FOLLOWED THE ‘CORRECTION’ OF THE YEAR 1582, FRANCESCO WAS RECONFIRMED IN SAVIATO FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 1592, AND LATER IN THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER OF 1593 TO MARCH OF 1594.

 

ON THE 11TH OF MARCH 1595, HE TOOK THE FIRST IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT OUTSIDE THE LAGOONS, HE WAS ELECTED, TOGETHER WITH CHRISTOPHER VALIER, MAYOR IN DALMATIA, EXTRAORDINARY MAGISTRACY THAT WAS SENT IN THE PROVINCES OVERSEAS FROM TIME TO TIME IN ORDER TO REPAIR TO "EXTORSIONI, VIOLENTIE, GRAVAMI, MANZARIE ED ALTRE INSOLENTIE ET OFFESE VERSO LE LEGGI" (EXTORTION, VIOLENCE, ONLY LIENS AND OTHER INSULTS AND OFFENSES AGAINST THE LAWS), WITH AUTHORITY TO “INQUISIRE RETTORI ET CASTELLANI" (INVESTIGATE RECTORS AND LORDS OF THE CASTLE).

 

THESE ARE THE COMMITTEES, WHICH WERE HANDED TO BOTH THE 13TH OF JUNE OF THE SAME YEAR.

 

1599-1600

 

 

FRANCESCO ERIZZO WAS SENT TO SALO, AS SUPERINTENDENT AND CAPTAIN OF THE RIVIERA OF BRESCIA (25 OF MAY 1599 - 24 OF NOVEMBER 1600), AFTER WHICH HIS CAREER WOULD NO LONGER KNOWN OUTAGES.

 

1601-1605

wise for the second half of the mainland in the years 1601-1605, in the hour of crisis Interdict, cleverly chose to shirk from the political scene.

1605-1607

December 9, 1605, he accepted the election as lieutenant of the Fatherland of Friuli, where he remained until the spring of 1607, Venice had to play once again saviato of the mainland, for the last quarter of the year.

1608-1610

Between the years 1608 and 1610 year alternated the roles of wise and censor of the mainland, with that of the wise Merchandise, regarding the concessions to the British and Dutch companies, who had requested it.

with regard to the Venetian citizens in trade, we can not know the attitude taken by Francesco Erizzo in the circumstances, but certainly his reputation and his image had definitely come out stronger.

1611-1613

in January of 1611, was appointed to the delicate task of depositary Mint, after which it became part of the Council of Ten.

holds the important position of the Council wise for the period from April to September of 1612.

In the same year covers the administrative and financial positions.

According to the file and 'sopraprovveditore Biava from 6 October 1612 to 31 March 1613; Depositary Mint in October-November 1613).

1614-1618

wise, and again from October 1614 to the Council in March of 1615, then the administrator over the mountains in the quarter July-September 1614 and the administrator in the Mint in the summer of year 1615.

commitment in the Venetian wars Gradisca and Monferrato, to whom Francesco Erizzo would attend in person, port 'a strong financial contribution to the coffers of his family

The conclusion of the Second Treaty of Asti, in June of 1615, the Republic had freed from the commitment to protect the Lombard provinces, allowing it to move troops to the eastern border, where it now clashes with the fugitives and the provocations of the Archduke had reached intolerable levels.

Venice strengthened the blockade against Monfalcone, while in November, although the war had not yet been officially declared, the opposing armies ravaged Istria and low Isonzo.

The September 18, 1615 Francis was appointed superintendent of Erizzo fortress of Palmanova, placing the orders of the administrator general in the field, Pietro Barbarigo, who pressed him for months with incessant demands for men and provisions; Francesco Erizzo, was able to somehow cope with the task , demonstrating good organizational skills.

June 18 of year 1616 had to leave the command of the fortress to take on the role of the administrator in the field, with John the Baptist Foscarini.

conflict and 'documented by a string of dispatches (August-November 1616) that seems to prefigure the very conduct and outcome that subsequent events were recorded, and after some (content), early successes, culminating in the conquest of Caporetto.

Francesco Erizzo, tends to linger in the geographical descriptions of the Isonzo valley rather than on military problems, and when this happens, the news he sends to the Senate are mostly marked by caution.

Many patricians in Venice, they were not willing to endorse such an over-cautious conduct of the war and with the opening of the new year of operations was the responsibility entrusted to Nicolò Contarini, while Francesco Erizzo (January 14) was elected general superintendent in Candia.

provided for the appointment a long time bringing Francesco Erizzo serving in Friuli, where he tried to dissuade the coup against Contarini from the fort of St. Martin of Cusco (February 1617) and the firm failed Contarini and Francesco Erizzo honestly acknowledged that he was right and that prudence suggested that he was an objective basis in reality of the opposing forces, yet the same Contarini was to witness the personal commitment and the courage shown by connecting a few months later, when the sudden attack by the Archduke against the field Venetian Meriano.

It was probably for this reason, as a result of the evolving military situation in the course of the summer of 1617, that the sending of Francesco Erizzo in Candia was the first police station, and then finally canceled by the administrator and his election as Commissioner field (November 2, 1617), despite the repeated recommendations of the person to be relieved of an assignment that lasted for over fourteen months.

Peace on the eve of the military operations around stagnant degrees, so that the Senate considered more useful the presence of Francesco Erizzo beyond the Mincio, to face the threats of the governor of Milan, Pedro Alvarez de Toledo.

On 16 December, were given commissions.

until the spring of 1618 Francesco Erizzo. remained in Venetian Lombardy, moving between Brescia and Crema, especially taking care to ensure the money to the troops and provisions.

In recognition of long service, December 22, 1618, was elected prosecutor of S. Marco de Ultra and five days after the administrator of the Navy, with the task to support the Captain-General, Lorenzo Venier, in operations against the team sent by the viceroy of Naples in the Adriatic.

1619-1623

in April of 1619, he went to Korcula, where the Captain-General had decided to join forces to move against the coast of Puglia, but once they arrive in Corfu were informed that peace had been concluded.

Repatriated, Francesco Erizzo held the office of the Council wise for the first half of 1620.

heresy was wise, and November 24 was commissioned to travel to Verona as the administrator, along with three colleagues, to inspect the fortress.

In the same year was elected ambassador to the Emperor Ferdinand II, on the occasion of the elevation to the throne, along with Knight and attorney Simon Contarini, but because of the developments of the war in Bohemia commissions were entrusted to only two of 24 April ' year 1621, the mission took place in Innsbruck in May, leading to Francesco Erizzo a knighthood.

The report which was read in the Senate with strong determination, does not hide the difficulties raised by Ambassador Spanish.

In the second half of 1621 was once again Francesco Erizzo wise Council, getting the office of reformer of the University of Padua.

February 25, 1622 he was appointed superintendent general in the Mainland for the crisis of the Valtellina.

In the summer it was in the city 'of Brescia: The main tasks were to ensure the efficiency of almost 14,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry.

in this period are sent many spies and informers in Mantova and in Switzerland.

Francesco Erizzo had a close working relationship with the superintendent to Edolo Venice, Francesco Gradenigo, represents his greatest source of information about the movements of the Swiss and French to help the Grisons, including operations carried out by the Spanish and Archduke Leopold in Valtellina against insurgents.

in Venice, it was wise of the Council for the period July to December of the year 1623, was appointed, along with three colleagues, Ambassador Extraordinary to Rome, during the ascent to the papacy of Urban VIII.

1625-1630

in the year 1625 and 'Savio Council for the six months April to September.

May 15 was elected Ambassador Extraordinary to England.

July 19th sprinkle 'a second term of General Mainland.

The death of Vincenzo Gonzaga had in fact led the Republic to assume the defense of the Duchy of Mantua against Spanish ambitions, for almost two years (August 1625-June 1627) Francesco Erizzo, was committed to strengthening the military system of the Republic beyond the Mincio, moving between Verona, Brescia  and  Bergamo.

and 'wise man of the Council in the second half of 1627.

April 6, 1628, and 're-appointed administrator general in the Mainland, since the outbreak of the War of Monferrato.

The task ahead of him was not easy, 'cause the defense of Duke Carlo Gonzaga Nevers, on whose behalf it was deployed to the Republic, shortly thereafter would require not only the ability to cope with the German troops, but also the destructive epidemic the plague.

Francesco Erizzo reasoned to be political and not military, so he had only to wear down the opponent, no knock on the open ground.

you can not 'say that the Venetian there was heroism.

For this reason, Francesco Erizzo, for not being able to defend Goito by the Spaniards, was dismissed on February 23 of year 1630 and replaced by Zaccaria Sagredo.

Unfortunately, even these proved less capable, and was ingloriously defeated at Vale.

The Senate decided to entrust again charged on the fate of the troops on day 1 of June of 1630, but decided to keep Francesco Erizzo distant imperial militia departments, thus abandoning 'Mantua to his fate.

Peace concluded with the Treaty of Regensburg, Francesco Erizzo continued in its role of administrator in the field.

1631-1646

Francesco Erizzo and 'Doge, with unanimous vote, April 10, 1631.

reaches the announcement in Vicenza, where he was.

He held the ducal throne for a long time, about 15 years, this was a pretty quiet period, during which he was able to proclaim an end to the plague and to put into the building of the church of Health. In the early 1645 '... long war of Candia, whose beginnings were certainly not in favor of the Republic, in order to galvanize the souls the Senate, December 7, offered the supreme command of the Doge operations.

 

Francesco Erizzo although elder agreed, but the task was clearly beyond his physical resources and the anxiety and the commitment of the preparations they hastened death, which took him to Venice January 3, 1646.

Francesco Erizzo was buried in the church of S. Martin Castle.