John IV Crispo

[1] In 1517, John IV Crispo reached legal majority and the Venetian administration of the Duchy under his uncle ceased.

[1] A Venetian testimony described him: "The young duke, is surrounded by evil counsellors; his island is weak, his castle strong, but badly armed.

"[1] He made an unsuccessful attempt to incorporate Paros in his domain, but the rights of Fiorenza Sommaripa was protected by his ally Venice.

The following year, war broke out between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, who attacked the Venetian islands and allies in Greece under command of Khaireddin Barbarossa.

The Turkish commander sent a Christian emissary to the duke with the message: "If, you will voluntarily submit yourself and your islands to the emperor, already master of Asia and ere long of all Europe too, you may easily obtain his favour.

"[1] As it was not possible to resist, and no help from Europe was expected, John IV Crispo and his council on 5 November 1537 surrendered, promised to pay an annual tribute of 5000 ducats and subject to the sultan, to avoid slavery.

With Ottoman support, John IV Crispo deposed the Premarini dynasty from their domain of Zia and bestowed it as well as Mykonos to his daughter upon her marriage to Gian Francesco Sommaripa of Andros.

[1] In 1559, a rebel by the name Mamusso of Candia proclaimed: "It was disgraceful, that so many valiant Greeks should allow their religion to be insulted and their country to be governed by a mere handful of Franks",[1] and John IV banished the Orthodox metropolitan of Paronaxia for sedition and for supporting this view.

Every year, when the Turkish captains arrive, the duke's subjects bring their complaints against him before them, so that he dare not punish his own dependents for their crimes, nor even for their offences against his own person.