Francesco Contarini (1477–1558)
In the end, his money was refunded and his father died in prison after sending him his ring in November 1512.
[1] On 6 June 1526, Contarini, to his dismay, was elected ambassador to England following the death of Lorenzo Orio.
[1] On 26 November 1534, Contarini was commissioned as ambassador to Ferdinand I, King of the Romans, arriving in Vienna before the year's end.
His main goal was to preserve Venetian neutrality in the Habsburg–Ottoman war, but he was also tasked with securing the restoration of the fiefs of Belgrado and Castelnuovo to the Savorgnan [it].
In a coded dispatch of 23 April 1535, he describes the efforts of Bishop Bernardo Clesio, on behalf of Pope Paul III and Emperor Charles V, to persuade Venice to join the Holy League.
[2] He followed the imperial court after it left Ghent and passed through Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Utrecht, Luxembourg, Speyer and Nuremberg.
[1] Speaking of the ongoing war between Pope Clement VII and Ascanio Colonna [it], Contarini reported that: Everyone has concluded that just as the emperor seeks in every possible way to make peace, to calm the princes, and to support and defend the affairs of the pope, so His Holiness does everything to start a fire in Italy and to keep it going, things that are not fitting for the vicar of Christ.
[6] Contarini may also have brought back documents relating to the Mexican expedition of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.
[7] In 1542, Contarini returned with Sanuto to Trent as commissioners for settling a border dispute between the republic and the Holy Roman Empire.
[1] That year, he and Antonio Cappello successfully negotiated with Pietro Strozzi for the return of Marano to the republic.
[8] During his later years, he was frequently among the Savi del Consiglio and often the consigliere (councillor) representing the sestiere of Dorsoduro on the Ducal Council.
[9] Contarini undertook special embassies of congratulation to the newly elected popes Julius III (1550), Marcellus II (1555) and Paul IV (1555).
