Carlo Zeno

Carlo Zeno (or Zen) (1333 – 8 March 1418) was an Italian admiral from Venice, who is considered a hero of the War of Chioggia against the Republic of Genoa.

Destined for an ecclesiastical career, Zeno studied at Padua, but dedicated himself instead to pursuing women and the good life.

As the bailiff and captain of Negropont, Zeno found himself in command of eighteen galleys, which he employed in raiding expeditions in the Mediterranean.

Carlo Zeno had long since been ordered to return to Venice, but the slowness and difficulty of communication and movement under 14th century conditions delayed his reappearance.

But on his return to Venice he was in for a shock when the Venetian bureaucracy began poring through the Paduan account ledgers, they discovered an entry apparently recording a payment to Zeno.