Alvise I Mocenigo

There were three Doges, and many other prominent Venetians, called Alvise Mocenigo. Alvise I Mocenigo (26 October 1507 – 4 June 1577) was doge of Venice from 1570 to 1577.

An admirer of antiquities, Mocenigo was a diplomat of the Republic of Venice at the court of emperor Charles V (1545), to pope Paul IV (1557) and again at the imperial court (1564). In 1567 he was a candidate to the election as doge, but lost to Pietro Loredan. He participated again when the latter died, and was elected as doge of Venice in 1570. His dogaressa was the scholar Loredana Marcello (d. 1572).

At the time of his accession, the Ottoman Empire was preparing to wage war against Venice: the conflict broke out in 1570, and Venice lost the fortresses of Nicosia and Famagusta in Cyprus. Despite the victory of the Christian coalition in the Battle of Lepanto, Venice was forced to sign an unfavorable treaty of peace with the Turks (7 March 1573), by which it recognized the loss of Cyprus.

During his reign Venice was visited by the new King of France, Henry III, in July 1574. He was interred in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, a traditional burial place of the doges.

Alvise I Mocenigo died on November 27, 1577 of suicide by hanging. Although he was a religious man, many had thought he was depressed as he would talk to children a lot and laugh along with them. But with adults he would not speak a word to.