[4] He worked as a lawyer from a very early age, though without holding formal qualifications, and subsequently was an administrator for the government of the Republic of Venice.

In 1570 he was procurator of St Mark's and, in the December of the same year, capitano generale da Mar of the Venetian fleet in the new war against the Ottoman Turks, substituting Girolamo Zane.

[5] He was the commander of the Venetian contingent at Battle of Lepanto (7 October 1571), in which the Christian League decisively defeated the Turks.

However, in 1907 his remains were moved in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, a traditional burial place of the doges.

She became eventually the wife of his son Selim II and the mother of Murad III, from whom descend all succeeding Sultans.