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Laurence Pisani, UK

 

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Last Update: 01 April, 2008


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This section is about perhaps the most famous of the Venetian Pisani Patricians, Alvise Pisani. Alvise became the Doge of the mighty Venetian Republic where he ruled for 6 years.

 

This original text is in Italian. I have provided an English translation towards the bottom


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From Wikipedia

Alvise Pisani (Venezia, 1 gennaio 1664 – Venezia, 17 giugno 1741) è stato un doge veneziano.

Figlio di Gianfrancesco e Paolina Contarini, fu il centoquattordicesimo doge della Repubblica di Venezia dal 17 gennaio 1735 alla morte. Come tutti i dogi del Settecento veneziano, Pisani pensò più a curare l'allestimento di feste e ad organizzare solo l'ordinaria amministrazione, senza incontrare problemi d'ordine internazionale.

Vita::Uomo ricchissimo anche se accusato d'esser spilorcio (a torto viste le grandiose spese che affrontò di tasca propria durante il suo dogato), cercò sempre d'imitare lo stile dei re pur senza mai raggiungerlo, tanto da esser chiamato “povero principe”. Ambasciatore in Francia, Austria e Spagna, fu più volte savio e consigliere dogale. Candidatosi nel 1722 e nel 1732, nel 1735 fu l'unico candidato e spese così tanto per corrompere i possibili 41 elettori che venne eletto all'unanimità. Era sposato con Elena Badoer.

Dogato::
Eletto il 17 gennaio 1735, andò subito ad abitare a Palazzo Ducale portandosi dietro tutta la famiglia. Le feste per la sua elezione furono fastose e furono composti numerosi sonetti in suo onore. L'unica cosa notevole di Venezia, in quel periodo di decadenza, secondo alcuni cronisti, era il carnevale. In compenso, oltre a ciò, vi era anche un'ampia libertà d'espressione (naturalmente paragonandola secondo gli standard dell'epoca). Pisani trascorse spensierato quegli anni di governo; invecchiando si peggiorarono le sue condizioni di salute. A partire dal 1736, grazie all'introduzione di nuovi tipi di navi, dette navi "atte", con equipaggio ridotto e molti cannoni come difesa, l'economia migliorò decisamente dopo le dure crisi del 1733 e 1734. Nel maggio 1741 si decise di dargli qualche mese di riposo in una villa in terraferma e, proprio mentre il doge stava per salire in gondola per allontanarsi, si sentì male e dovette esser riportato a palazzo. Morì il 17 giugno 1741.
 


Alvise Pisani (Venice, 1st January  1664 – Venice, 17th June 1741) was a Doge of Venice.

Son of Gianfrancesco and Paolina Contarini, he was the 114th Doge of the Republic of Venice from 17th January 1735 until his death. Like all of the Dogi of the seventeen hundreds, Pisani thought more about taking care of the arrangement of feasts and in organising only the basic administration, without encountering problems of international order.

Life:: A wealthy man he was also accused of being a penny pincher (a wrong perspective, the grand expenditure he undertook during his time as Doge was from his own pocket), he always looked to mimic the elegance of a king though without ever achieving it, many since calling him the "poor prince". Ambassador in France, Austria and Spain, he was time and again a wise ducal advisor. He was proposed as candidate in 1722 and in 1732, in 1735 he was the only candidate and so spent a lot to corrupt the possible 41 electors so that he became unanimously elected. He was married to Elena Badoer.

Doge::
Elected on 17th January 1735, he went straight to live in the Ducal Palace bringing all of his family. The feasts for his election were sumptuous and there were numerous sonnets composed in his honour. The unique notable thing about Venice, in this period of decadence, according to some observers, were the carnivals. In compensation, beyond that, there was also a wide freedom of expression (naturally comparing it according to the standards of the time). Pisani passed carefree through those years of government; growing old the condition of his health worsened. Since 1736, thanks to the introduction of new types of boats, called "act" boats, with a reduced crew and many defensive canon, the economy improved resolutely after the tough crisis of 1733 and 1734. In May 1741 he decided to take a few months of rest in a villa on the mainland and, just whilst the Doge was to mount a gondola to move away, he felt ill and was to be brought back to the palace. He died 17th June 1741.


 

 

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