Giovanni Mocenigo

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

Biography

Doge of Venice

In 1479, Mocenigo ended Venice's fifteen-year war with the Ottomans through the Treaty of Constantinople. The treaty gave the Ottomans Venetian overseas territory and an annual tribute of 10,000 ducats.

Mocenigo was also responsible for starting the Salt War in 1482, when he attacked Ferrara. The latter had challenged Venice's ownership of several salt mines, which Venice used as a pretext for territorial expansion. Although Pope Sixtus IV initially fought alongside Venice, he changed sides upon realizing the city's territorial ambitions.

In 1484, the war ended, with the duke of Ferrara, Ercole I d'Este, being forced to sign the Treaty of Bagniolo, which ceded Rovigo to Venice. This enlarged the Venetian Republic to its greatest size ever. Upon reading the terms of the treaty, Sixtus flew into a rage and died the following day.

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 Venice, the members of the Templar Order realized that it was crucial to gain the allegiance of Doge Mocenigo.

The Templar Carlo Grimaldi, who sat on the Council of Ten, was assigned to frequent the Palazzo Ducale, gain Mocenigo's friendship, and subtly attempt to recruit him to the 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 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 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.

Rodrigo Borgia, Grand Master of the Italian Templars, ordered the immediate assassination of Mocenigo, and bade Carlo to 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 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 Mocenigo began to cough up blood, Ezio chased Carlo out into the courtyard and killed him. 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 Mocenigo's killer and pursued by the palace guards out into the city.

After his death, Mocenigo was succeeded as Doge 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.
• In Assassin's Creed: Renaissance, instead of succumbing to the poison in the Palazzo Ducale's courtyard and making it seem like Ezio killed him, Mocenigo saw Ezio assassinate Carlo and was comforted by the fact that the latter died before him, dying in peace.
• While Doge Mocenigo reportedly died of an illness in real life, there have been speculations that he had in fact been poisoned.

Gallery

• 
  A render of Mocenigo's face
• 
  Front and back renders of Doge Mocenigo
• 
  Database potrait of Mocenigo
• 
  Mocenigo walking with Carlo
• 
  Ezio trying to prevent Mocenigo from drinking the poison

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Renaissance