Giovanni Mocenigo

Giovanni Mocenigo (1409 – 1485) was Doge of Venice from 1478 to 1485. During his life, he fought with Mehmed II, Emperor of the Ottoman Empire, as well as Ercole I d'Este, the duke of Ferrara.

Biography

Early life

Giovanni Ser di Mocenigo, Jr. was born in the very back and "dark quiet side" of Venice, Italy in 1409. His father, Giovanni Mocenigo, Sr. (1377-1437) was a well known but unsuccessful businessman who came from Rome while his mother, Anna Mocenigo, the daughter of a notary was a writer and poet. His parents divorced when he was fourteen years old, and therefore, was sent to live with his maternal grandparents in a village outside Venice where he spent the rest of his childhood a great student and someone with the ambition of becoming a political leader of Venice. He left the the unknown name poor village in 1427 to attend college and study in Venice. He graduated from his studies in 1430 and then disappeared from the history records, but only to reappear in 1434 married, and a spokesperson for doge of the time, Francesco Foscari. He had slowly worked his way up on to the political branch, spending nearly 30 years from the 1430's to the 1460's rising to higher and highter power in Venice getting closer and closer to his lifelong dream of becoming leader of his hometown of Venice.

The death of his father, who died almost penniless, caused Mocenigo to fall in a depression as he'll turn to acohol to ease the pain of his father's lost. His reputation as a politician declined a bit, but by the end of the 1430's was politically back on his feet and continued to work like his father wanted him to.

Templar influence

Silvio: "So, how goes things at the palace?"

Carlo: "Honestly, it's difficult. Mocenigo keeps his circle close. I have tried to lay the groundwork, making suggestions, but he has other voices at his ears."

—Templars speaking of recruiting Doge Mocenigo.

In the early 1480s, as part of their plot to control all of Venice, the members of the Templar Order realized that it was crucial to gain the allegiance of Doge Mocenigo.

The Templar Carlo Grimaldi was assigned to frequent the Doge's residence at the Palazzo Ducale, and to subtly attempt to recruit him to his Order's cause. However, the Doge did not fully trust Carlo, and listened only to the voices of the advisors in his inner circle.

Carlo remained "two steps from the Doge" day and night, and attempted to cater to his every desire. He ordered for the delivery of the "finest jams from the orchards of Sardinia, the latest fashions from Milano", but Doge Mocenigo likely only saw this as the acts of a flatterer, and was not impressed.

Death

"The plan is this: Doge Mocenigo will die tonight. And once the deed's been done, Marco shall take his place."

―Rodrigo Borgia.

Though Carlo was convinced that he was only a few days away from gaining Doge Mocenigo's support, in September of 1485, the Templars' time had run out. During a brief meeting at the Piazza di San Marco, the Templars discussed the fact that the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze had arrived at the city, and threatened the success of their plan.

The Grand Master of the Templars, Rodrigo Borgia, ordered for the immediate assassination of Doge Mocenigo, and bade Carlo kill him without any bloodshed, and make it "appear to all that he goes quietly." The Templars discussed a suitable poison, and decided upon cantarella, a variation of arsenic that was difficult to trace.

That night, on September 14, Carlo arranged for a chess game between himself and Doge Mocenigo. Using his free range of the palace, he entered the kitchen and slipped the cantarella into the Doge's drink, before calmly joining him for the game.

Doge Mocenigo's demise.

Ezio Auditore, who had overheard the Templars' plans, attempted to save the Doge's life. However, even after using Leonardo da Vinci's Flying Machine to enter the well-fortified Palazzo Ducale, the Assassin arrived too late. Even as Ezio called out for the Doge not to drink the wine, Carlo proclaimed that the Doge was already dead.

As Doge Mocenigo began to cough up blood, Ezio chased Carlo out into the courtyard and killed him, avenging the Doge. Miraculously, the Doge managed to stumble into the courtyard, but, delirious from the poison, he yelled out "You... You killed me? You killed ME!?" before collapsing to his death. As a result, Ezio was mistakenly labeled as Doge Mocenigo's killer, and pursued by the palace guards out into the city.

Following his demise, Doge Mocenigo was succeeded by the Templar Marco Barbarigo.

Trivia

• There is a symbol on the corno ducale that Doge Mocenigo wears that resembles the Assassin insignia.
• Doge Mocenigo was the 72nd Doge of Venice.

Gallery

• A render of Doge Mocenigo's face.
  A render of Doge Mocenigo's face.
• 
  Front and back renders of Doge Mocenigo.
• 
  Ezio attempting to stop Doge Mocenigo from drinking the poison.

Sources

• Assassin's Creed II