Antonio Loredano

Antonio Loredan
Born	1420
Died	August 1482
Nationality	Venetian
Occupation	military officer and governor
Known for	successful defense of Scutari in 1474

Antonio Loredan (Latin: Antonius Lauretanus) (1420 – August 1482) was a member of Venetian noble family Loredan, captain of Venetian-held Scutari and governor in Split, Albania Veneta, and the Morea.

Antonio Loredan was born into the Loredan noble Venetian family. His wife was Orsa (Orsola) Pisani, with whom he had three sons: Giovanni, Marco and Jacopo.

In 1466 Loredan was governor in the Morea. In the period 1467—69 he was a governor of Split in Venetian Dalmatia.

Loredan was appointed as captain of Scutari and governor of Albania Veneta on 12 July 1473.

He was one of Venetian military commanders during the Siege of Shkodra (1474). According to some sources, when Scutari garrison complained for lack of food and water, Loredan told them "If you are hungry, here is my flesh; if you are thirsty, I give you my blood."

Because of the successful defense of the city he was considered a war hero. Venetian government awarded Loredan with title of "Knight of San Marco". To celebrate this victory Venetians decided on 4 September 1474 to construct a hospital.

After successful defense of Scutari, Loredan was ordered by the Venetian government to seize Cyprus and garrison its castles after destroying Ottoman forts on Bojana first. The purpose of this move was to prevent the Republic of Genoa to use unstable situation at Cyprus and capture it first.

In 1478 Loredan was elected as a Procurator of San Marco. He died of marsh fever in 1482, during the War of Ferrara.

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