Ercole d'Este reconciles with Venice: Sanudo Diaries: November 19, 1497

nedits: Several years after the events of and following the war on Ferrara, now the Marquis Ercole d'Este I was warmly received in Venice along with a great number of other visiting notables.

Editor's note: "The doge's role as ceremonial head of the government consisted largely in the reception of important visitors. Along with the rituals of governmental processes and judicial procedures, state receptions served the mystique of Venetian power, expressing the Venetian ethos and reaffirming Venetian self-esteem.... Among the earliest receptions described in Sanudo's accounts was the visit in 1497 of Ercole I, the Duke of Ferrara, to Doge Agostino Barbarigo. This was a visit of reconciliation, for Ercole had fought a bitter war against Venice in 1482-84, and in 1494-95 he had given the invading French king, Charles VIII, free passage through his territories. Now the duke sought an alliance with Venice, putting aside his french connections (and fashions) and demonstrating his loyalty to the doge...." pp. 67-8

Sanudo Diaries: November 19, 1497: (1:820-21); "On November 19, Duke Ercole de la ca' di Este, the Marquis of Ferrara, arrived in this city with his second son, don Ferrante, who had been at court and on the payroll of the king of France. The duke was accompanied by about two hundred people, most of whom were no longer wearing French styles, as they used to, but Spanish and Ferrarese styles. Don Ferrante, who is a very handsome young man, was also dressed in the Spanish style."

Editor's footnote: "Don Ferrante had been in France since 1493, receiving an annual pay of 13,000 ducats and the title of royal chamberlain from Charles VIII. He had accompanied Charles into Italy in 1494, but now, since August 1497, as part of the duke's reconciliation with Venice, he had been ordered by his father to leave the french court and accompany him to Venice, where he was to be invested with the title condottiere della Republic di San Marco (military captain in the service of the Venetian Republic)." p. 68

Sanudo, con't: "Several patricians were sent to Chioza to receive the duke honorably. He did not bring a large barge with him, but came on smaller flat-bottomed boats. He was honorably welcomed by Beneto Trevixan, knight and governor of Chioza. He was also accompanied by Bernardo Bembo, knight and doctor, who is our visdomino in Ferrara."

Editor's footnote: "Bernardo Bembo (1453-1519) was a distinguished patrician, senator, and ambassador and father of Pietro Bembo.... After the war of Ferrara ended in 1484, Venice exercise a kind of protectorate over Ferrara, with Venetian authority represented there by a resident Venetian consul known as a visdomino." p. 68.

nedits: Pietro Bembo would get the contract for writing the official history of Venice for the years 1487-1513. As official historian, Sanudo commented, Bembo was given 200 ducats a year for housing and nothing else. Of course this was a position Sanudo wanted. Bembo produced three volumes on that as well as love poetry, a treatise on Italian grammar and much else. He also became the secretary of Leo X the de'Medici pope.... and Bembo would also feature as a character in Baldessar Castiglione's Book of the Courtier which I'll talk about later, in the right context.

Sanudo con't: "When they reached Malamocho, they found the patricians who had been sent there to greet them, as is customary. The Senate had decreed that that [the city officials] would go to meet him in the Bucintoro, so today, which is Sunday, the doge and the ambassador of Spain (although he was in mourning for the king's only son), as well as the ambassadors of Naples, Milan, Monferrato, Rimini, and Pisa, went forth. Also attending were the members of the Signoria, many richly dressed patricians, and knights wearing cloth of gold. Because of the lateness of the hour and the tide, the Bucintoro went as far as Sant' Antonio, where it met the boats from Chioza bearing the aforementioned duke. "

Editor's footnote: "Sant' Antonio is on the Pellestrina litoral between Chiogga and Venice." p. 68.

Sanudo con't: "When they had disembarked on the Piazzetta, the doge greeted the duke warmly. The duke was wearing a floor-length, tight-sleeved robe of black damask lined with marten. Over it he wore a cape of black cloth because he is in mourning for his daughter, the Duchess of Milan [Ed. footnote: Beatrice d'Este , 22, wife of Ludovico Sforza, died Jan'97]; on his head was a cap of black velvet. After boarding the Bucintoro, they proceeded along the Grand Canal until they reached his house, which had been prepared for him...."

Editor's footnote: "This house, the Casa del Marchese, was a palazzo given to Nicolo d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara, in 1381, confiscated from the Estensi in 1482, as it would again in 1509. In 1497 it could still be referred to as belonging to the duke. Later it was given to Julius II and used by several papal legates thereafter until it was again restored to the Estensi in 1527.... It was often used by the government for high-ranking guests. In 1621 it became the Fondaco del Turchi." p. 69

nedits: This is a really glorious building. If you google map search Fundaco del Turchi, it will bring up Ca San Giorgio, the house next door. So zoom in and then flip it with the directional dial so N - for north - is on the bottom of the dial. This will give you a view of this amazing gothic relic. It has had rehab in the last century to redo the front like it must have been in Sanudo's day. I'm amazed I can't find it anywhere else under that name on the web... I have even heard recently that United Colors of Benetton are considering purchasing this building to be their world headquarters..

Sanudo con't: "When they had disembarked, the doge accompanied him as far as his chamber, where he left him to his repose.

On the morning of the following day, the 20th, the duke was joined by the knights and patricians who had been sent to bring him to the public audience on flatboats. When he reached the Piazza San Marco, our doge, along with the members of the Signoria, in order to give the duke every sign of affection, came out to meet him on the landing of the stairs to the tribunal. The doge grasped the duke's hand and led him to sit near him, with the duke's son on his left. The duke then spoke some very sweet words, saying that he wished to be a more devoted son to this state, offering himself, etc. And the doge skillfully responded to him publicly in a voice that could be heard by all. After the duke took his leave, he returned to his dwelling.

On the 21st, after dinner, the doge, together with the members of the Signoria and many patricians, went on flatboats to the marquis's house to visit the Duke of Ferrara. Then just the duke and the visdomino went to the Ducal Palace to speak in private with the doge. Thus did the duke begin to repent, protesting his desire to be a good and loyal son of this Signoria."

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All quotes as Sanudo Diaries or Editor's notes or Editor's Footnotes from Venice, Cita Excellentissima, Selection from the Renaissance Diaries of Marin Sanudo translated by Linda L Carroll,  editors: Patricia H LaBalme and Laura Sanguineti White, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008