Silvestro Valier

Silvestro Valiero or Valier (Venice, 28 March 1630 – Venice, 7 July 1700) was the 109th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on 25 February 1694 until his death six years later. The Morean War between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire, which had been ongoing since 1684, came to an end during Valiero's reign as Doge, in January 1699.

Silvestro Valiero was the son of Bertuccio Valiero, who had served as Doge from 1656 to 1658. On 8 August 1649, in the church of Santa Maria Formosa, Silvestro Valiero was married to Elisabetta Querini; Valiero was only 19 years old. Valiero then became by purchasing the office. According to his chroniclers, Valiero did not possess any special talents, but he was handsome, and a good speaker. Throughout his career, he was most interested in the diplomatic affairs of the Most Serene Republic, and where his good looks and way with words proved useful. Valiero was a lover of the good life, but he was also generous to the poor and thereby gained their affections.

Doge Francesco Morosini died on 16 January 1694. Morosini, a military hero before becoming Doge, had been the rare seventeenth-century Doge of Venice who was active on the battlefield. However, on his death, with the Republic still embroiled in war and facing massive economic difficulties, Venetians decided to elect someone who was not very ambitious. They therefore elected Silvestro Valiero on 25 February 1694, and he celebrated by paying for lavish celebrations and banquets. Although the Grand Council had, in 1645, abolished the elaborate ceremony for installing a new dogaressa, because of its large expense to the state and to the Doge, Valiero convinced the Council to grant an exception. As such, on 4 March 1694, Elisabetta Querini appeared clad in a cloth of gold robe adorned with sable, with a white veil and corno ducale, (the version of ducal crown worn by the Doge and his wife) adorned with jewels, and a large diamond cross on her chest. Together Valiero and his wife sat on the throne of Venice and received counselors, ministers, judges, and the capis of the Ten.

...
Wikipedia