Francesco Cornaro or
Francesco Corner (
VeniceVenice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, March 6, 1585 - Venice, June 5, 1656) was the 101st
Doge of VeniceThe Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
. His reign as Doge was the shortest of any Doge. He was elected on May 17, 1656, and died only a few weeks later, on June 5, 1656.
Francesco Cornaro was the son of
Giovanni CornaroGiovanni I Corner or Cornaro was the 96th Doge of Venice, reigning from January 24, 1625 until his death.-Early years, 1551-1625:He was the son of Marcantonio Cornaro and Cecilia Giustinian...
, who was Doge of Venice from 1625 to 1629. Francesco Cornaro was married to Andriana Priuli, the daughter of
Antonio PriuliAntonio Priuli was the 94th Doge of Venice, reigning from May 17, 1618 until his death. Priuli became Doge in the midst of an ongoing Spanish conspiracy orchestrated by the Spanish Ambassador to Venice, Alfonso de la Cueva, marqués de Bedmar, a "spy war" that did not end until 1622.-Background,...
, who was Doge from 1618 to 1623.
Francesco Cornaro had a prestigious political career. Cornaro soured on politics after an incident occurred while he was serving as the
AmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of the
Republic of VeniceThe Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
to the Duke of Savoy. The Duke became convinced that Cornaro was plotting against him and had Cornaro expelled from the
Duchy of SavoyFrom 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
. After that, Cornaro withdrew from politics and devoted himself to business. It was widely believed that he would never be elected as Doge. However, after the death of
Carlo ContariniCarlo Contarini was the 100th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on March 27, 1655 until his death a little over a year later.-Background 1580-1655:...
on May 1, 1656 (a reign that lasted barely more than a year), Cornaro was elected Doge on May 17, 1656, only to die a few weeks later on June 5, 1656. He is buried in the Tolentini.