Marino Faliero (1274–1355)
Born 1274 CE, died 1355 CE.
Marino Faliero (Venetian: Marin Falier, c. 1274 – 17 April 1355) was the 55th Doge of Venice from 11 September 1354 to 15 April 1355, 2 days before his execution for attempting a coup d'état. Faliero was born into one of the most ancient Venetian patrician families and held various state positions, including several military appointments, governorships, and ambassadorships. He was already eighty years old at the time of his election as doge. The reasons for his involvement in a coup attempt to overthrow Venice's republican government and install himself as prince are not entirely clear. According to a later tradition, Faliero attempted the coup as vengeance for an insult against his younger wife by a patrician, who was lightly punished. However, modern historians often dismiss this tradition and argue that Faliero wanted to secure Venice's survival by establishing autocratic rule, which had become the norm outside of Venice. A painting of a black shroud with the words "This is the place of Marino Faliero, beheaded for crimes" hangs in the Great Council Hall of Venice among the portraits of the doges.
Text from the Wikipedia article Marino_Faliero, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.