The generall historie of the magnificent state of Venice From the first foundation thereof vntill this present. Collected by Thomas de Fougasses, gentleman of Auignon, out of all authors, both ancient and moderne, that haue written of that subiect. Englished by VV. Shute. Gent.

[illustration]

¶ PIERO TRADONICO, the 13. Duke of Uenice.

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PIero Tradonico was chosen in his place. He was borne at Pola, and be∣ing driuen out of Equiline in the time of the French-mens warres, came to Rialto. Pola is an ancient Citie in the confines of Italie, and built (as Callimachus saith) in a gulph of the Sea, in forme of an Hauen, by the Colchians sent to pursue Medaea. Tradonico tooke his sonne Giouanni for Colleague. He caused a Church to be built in the honor of Saint Paul, the Apostle of the Gentils, as costlie as the Cities meanes in those daies would per∣mit, and in that place, where it is at this daie to be seene, with signes of great anti∣quitie. It is said that he made some attempts on their enemies the Narentines, but [ 40] not with great successe. Others saie that he sent his sonne against them at times, who fought with the Sea-Pyrats with better fortune than his Father.

The Ambassadors of those of Verona, came at the same time to Venice, to craue helpe against the inhabitants of the Lake of Benac: whom it was to bee thought they could not ouercome without forraine aide. Some write that those of the Lake craued this aide. The most curious Authors neuerthelesse doe affirme, that it was those of Verona: who hauing by the aduice of the Venetians furnished the Lake with shippes of warre, did the more easily ouercome their enemies: For which they did not only thank the Venetians, but sent them rich and costly presents to Ve∣nice. Others saie (for there is nothing wherein the Authors doe not almost disa∣gree) [ 50] that after that losse receiued on the Sea of Crotona (whereof we will heere∣after make mention) the Venetians did succour the Veronois: the which is scarce credible. For there is no Nation, how warlike soeuer, but would haue beene daun∣ted after so great an ouerthrow.

In this state stood the affaires of the Venetians, beeing more prosperous within the Citie, and the places neere to the firme Land, than abroad, when Theodosius of Constantinople, Generall of the Sea-armie of Michael the Greeke Emperour▪ a∣gainst the Moores, arriued at Venice, where he laboured with Tradonico, to haue the Venetians to send forth a mightie armie against the Barbarians, which spoiled the coasts of Apulia.

They freely graunted his request in honour of the Emperour, and they armed threescore Gallies against the Moores▪ In regard whereof Theodosius intituled Tra∣d•…•…nico, Protos-pater of the Grecian Empire; which dignitie was next to the Empe∣rours. [ 10]

Saba the Captaine of the Moores, (for it will not bee impertinent briefely to speake somewhat of the incursions of this Nation, who are reported to be descen∣ded from Mauritania) at his arriuall in Italie tooke the Sea-port in Tuscanie, now called Ciuita Vecchia, others terme it Centochiese by the name of a Towne neere thereunto, which the Emperour Adrian did very sumptuously build (as wit∣nesseth Plinie in his Epistles.) I dare affirme these men to be the ancient Pirgues, the which the name of their Citie doth seeme to shew which is called Vecchia; and I would call it the Hauen of Pirgues, were it not, that hard by as yee goe to Ostia, there is a place, which the Inhabitants call Pyrgues at this day. Now Saba hauing landed his men in that place, and left a sufficient Garrison for the Guarde of his [ 20] Ships, marched with his Armie to Rome: who, after hee had first of all taken the Vatican, and spoyled the most renowned Church of the world, dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles, did besiege the Citie. But hauing intelligence of Guido's comming, whom Pope Gregorie the fourth had called out of France for the Cities safetie, he did on a sodaine dislodge thence, and tooke his iourney betwixt Via Ap∣pia, and Via Latina, putting all the Suburbes to fire and sword, not sparing the no∣ble Church of S. Paul two miles distant from the Citie.

The Barbarian turned towards Via Latina, and being come to the Forrest of Cassina, he tooke by force the Citie which stood therein, spoyling and ruinating it. The new Citie which was since then builded there, is at this day called Saint Ger∣mans. [ 30] There is also hard by the same place a very famous Monasterie, renowned for the ancient Religion and wealth thereof. This did the Barbarians likewise take, and burnt the greatest part of it. Marching from thence along the Riuer Liris (cal∣led Garillano at this day) they ranne to Sea▪ward, like a storme falling from the Mountaines, and driuen by the force of the winds, into the neighbour plaines; they put all places by which they passed to fire and sword; and after they had stuft their Ships (which they had sent for forth of Tuscanie) with rich spoyles, they departed into Mauritania. It was not long ere they returned againe: For being puffed vp with the fortunate successe of their former voyage, & promising better fortune to them∣selues, they left their countrie and returned into Italie: where they tumultuously [ 40] assailed, at one selfe-same time in a manner, the Citie of Tarentum, and Sicilie.

Now seeing it was to be feared; that the Moores would spoile all the Sea coasts, Theodosius distrusting the forces which he brought from Greece, had recourse (as hath alreadie beene said) to the Venetians succors; the which being easily obtai∣ned, he marched against the Barbarians. In the meane time, so soone as Saba vnder∣stood the enemies comming he raised his siege from before Tarentum, & sodainly retired with his armie into the streights of the Sea neer to Crotona. It is not known whether he did it for feare, or whether it were most auailable for his purpose to deceiue the enemie vnder colour of flight, to constraine him thereby to make some rash attempt. Crotona is scituated on the Sea of Tarentum, a verie ancient Citie, [ 50] builded in times past by the Greekes, following Apollos Oracle vnder Nicellus their Captaine; and in times past so mighty, as the Crotonians had an Armie of an hun∣dred and thirtie thousand fighting men, at such time as they were vanquished by the Locrians neere to the Riuer Sagra. They were great warriours, and very

expert in a wrastling. But Pythagoras of Samos, and Milo his disciple, were the chiefe ornaments of that Citie; the one for being a Citizen of the same, and the best wrastler of his time; and the other for his skill in Philosophie.

In this place (for the Greeke and Venetian Fleet was there arriued) after cer∣taine vsuall light skirmshes, at last they came to strokes with the whole forces of either side. The Greekes being broken and defeated, the whole strength of the Moors lighted on the Venetians: But they being extreamely busied in the fight ne∣uer perceiued the flight of their fellowes, vntill they found themselues enuironed on euery side by the Barbarians: and by this mennes did the Venetian Gallies sustaine the force of the furious enemie. But the great multitude of the Moors preuailing [ 10] they were either sunke or taken. Those Venetians which were left aliue, were taken by the enemie; the rest, were either slaine in the fight, or drowned. Some write that the battaile of Crotona was before the Moores besieged Rome, (among whome is Bonitendius) The Barbarians proude of this successe, sailed into Dalmatia, where they spoiled certaine Townes, surprised by their sodaine incursions. They tooke likewise certaine Shippes laden with rich marchandize, returning from Syria, who hauing from farre espied the Moores fleete, had retired themselues into the Gulph of Trieste: But after they had taken them, in hatred of the Venetians, they slue all the prisoners.

The report of the losse of the battaile at Crotona, brought a meruailous griefe [ 20] and terror to the Citie. But this latter, as least of all look't for, did in such sort grieue them, as the feare was no lesse in Venice than as the enemie had beene be∣fore it; and this feare would haue beene greater, had they not vnderstood by their spies, that the enemies were gone to Ancona; which being taken, and spoiled by their sodaine and vnlook't for comming, they did forthwith put themselues to Sea. The Narentines ioyfull for the Venetians losse, came sodainely from Dalmatia, to steale and spoile, euen as farre as Caorli. This Towne stands at the mouth of the Riuer Limenes, whither the ancient Venetians, which fled from Concorda in the troublous time of the Hunnes, had retired themselues. About the same time or soone after (as saith Bonitendius) Pope Benedict came to Venice, where at the [ 30] importunate entreatie of Agnes de Morosin Abbesse of the place, hee promised to send from Rome the bodies of Saint Pancratius, and Saint Sabina, by the deuoti∣on done to which bodies, the Church might be furthered in the building. They were afterwards sent thither, and placed with great reuerence in a little Chappell of the Church.

Vnder this Princes gouernment the Emperour Lotharius (and manie Empe∣rours likewise after him) did confirme by writing all the ancient priuiledges, and immunities of the Venetians, to the end they might be inuiolably obserued. More∣ouer as the Common-wealth was then not very forunate abroad, it was much lesse at home: For the ciuill dissension of six of the noblest families in the Citie diuided [ 40] into two factions, did greatly trouble it. On the one side were the Iustiniani, the Po∣lani and the Bassei; on the other the Barbolani, the Seliani, and the Seuoli, who bee∣ing ioyned together, did by their quarrells, often-times present the people with ve∣rie fearefull and horrible spectacles. And after they had fought in the middest of the Citie with different successe, euen almost to the totall ruine of one another, the Barbolani with all their adherents were driuen forth of the Citie. But soone after, at the entreatie of the Emperour Ladowicke, to whom they had retired themselues, the strife betweene the two factions beeing appeased, they were restored to their houses. These things hapned during the gouernment of Piero Tradonico: who after he had gouerned certaine yeares alone after his sonnes death, whome hee had asso∣ciated [ 50] for the gouernment of the Common-wealth, comming one daie from diuine seruice at Saint Zacharies Church, it came to passe as he returned home-ward, hee was on a sodaine and vnlook't for assailed by certaine conspiratours, and by them murthered, the ninth yeare of his gouernment. At this so horrible and fearefull a

deed, his Ministers and seruants, which waited vpon him, mooued with a chari∣table affection towards the old man, endeuoured to defend him, and to repell the wrong, but being driuen away by a greater number, and stronger then themselues, they sodainly with a great noise seized on the Dukes Palace, where being besieged by the conspiratours, they did thirtie daies together sustaine their furie. At the last, after they had receiued assurance of the people, that the defending of so good a Prince against the trecherous attempts of wicked conspiratours, should not be im∣puted vnto them for a capitall crime; nor yet the seizing on the publike place for their safetie, which they had so couragiously defended: they came foorth of the Pa∣lace; hauing first of all capitulated, That the Citie should not leaue such an exam∣ple [ 10] vnpunished, to haue wickedly and miserably slaine so vertuous a Prince, with∣out desert at all; saying, That it was an hainous matter, to behold Citizens to walke in a Citie, where they had committed so execrable a parricide, and besprinkled the peoples face with the bloud of the soueraigne Magistrate.

The people appointed three men to enquire concerning the murther, to punish the guiltie, and to take order for those who had seized on the Dukes Palace. The three which were deputed, were Piero Bishop of Equiline, Giouanni Arch-deacon of Grada, and Dominico Massoni. These men bannished the guiltie for euer; some in∣to France, and the rest into Greece. Diuers, who as yet were not condemned, were murthered. Vrso Grugnario one of the conspirators died miserably, being possessed by [ 20] wicked spirits; to shew that the death of Tradonico did not only displease men, but God. And those who had seized on the Dukes Palace, because it was not done with∣out great commotion in the Citie; some of them were bannished out of the limits of the Venetians, and the most part of the rest were confined into the Isle of Poue∣gia. This place is fiue mile distant from the Citie: whither after they had carried their wiues and children, they did in time so encrease, as the Town which they built there was afterward greatly inhabited; but such as it was, the warres of the Genoue∣zes did wholly ruinate it.

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Notes

• Pola an ancient Citie.
• The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 request against those of Ben•…•…c.
• The comming of Theodosius to Venice.
• A Sea-armie∣graunted to the Grecian against the Sarracens
• From whence the Sarracen Moores are des∣cended.
• The Pirgueys.
• Saint Peters Church at Rome taken by the Moores.
• The spoiles made by the Moores.
• The Moores re∣turne into Italie.
• Saba the Moore before Taren∣tum.
• The Citie of Crotona.
• Pythagoras and Milo the two or∣naments of the Crotonians.
• The battaile of Crotona. The Greekes stir.
• The Venetian Armie defeated before Crotona. The Moores came into Dal∣matia.
• The Narentine•…•… ro•…•…des euen to Caorli.
• Pope Bennet comes to Venic•…•… The bodies of S. Pancracius, and S. Sabina brought to Ve∣nice.
• The Emperour Lotharius con∣firmes the fran∣chizes of Venice
• Great strife a∣mong the Citi∣vens.
• Duke Tradoni∣co murthered.
• The Princes household-ser∣uants retired in∣to the Palace, do•…•… Capitulate.
• Three men ap∣pointed by the people to enquire of the Princes murther. The murtherers punished.
• Pouegia newly inhabited.