Venice and Crete: Documents from the Xvith to Xviiith Centuries by Dionysios Hatzopoulos

Venice and Crete: Documents from the XVIth to XVIIIth Centuries by Dionysios Hatzopoulos

Nineteen manuscripts, all containing official documents, are presented in this article. They refer to Venetian involvement andpresence in the Levant, mainly in Crete. They cover the period between the end of sixteenth and the beginning of eighteenth centuries, when the struggle with the Ottomans bad reached its most critical point. The documents mention the activities of members of the Mormori, Cattaneo and Michieli families. In addition, a legal document is presented: a "liuello" (long term lease) executed in Crete.

Dix-neuf manuscrits regroupant tous des documents officiels, sont prksentks dans cet article. Ils se rapportent a la prksence ve'nitienne au Levant et notamment en Cr2te. Ils couurent la phiode allant de la fin du XVIe siecle au debut du XVIIIe siecle, kpoque a laquelle la lutte contre les Ottotmans await atteint son point culminant. Les documents fournissent des indications sur les acti~itksdes membres des familles Mormori, Cattaneo et Michieli. Unacte notarik ("liuello") execute en Crite y est kgalement prksente'.

enetian rule in Crete or Candia, as Relations between the Venetian masters and it was also known then, from the the local population improved, especially name of the capital city, dated from among the upper and middle classes. Many the first decade of the thirteenth Greeks served Venice faithfully and fought centuryv (Figure 1). The collapse of the against the common enemy down to the bitter Byzantine Empire, following the occupation of end in 1669, when the island, after a pro- Constantinople by the knights of the fourth tracted struggle, was finally occupied by the crusade in 1204, was followed by the distribu- Ottomans. tion of Byzantine territories among the victors. Crete was initially given to Boniface of Montferrat who, in turn, sold the island to The administrative system in Crete was Venice in August 1204. based on the metropolitan one. The central administration-Regimen-sat in Candia and While the Republic's initial interest was lim- was composed of three members: the Duke ited to the use of the island's main harbours, and two councillors. They were appointed by especially that of the capital city of Candia, the Venetian Senate for a period of two years. now Herakleion, by the long haul convoys In the fourteenth century the island was plying the sea lanes between Venice and the divided in four administrative districts (terri- Levant, the final elimination of the Byzantine toria): Candia, Canea, Rethymno and Siteia. .state by the Ottomans, in 1453, changed the The office of Proweditor General, combining ma's geopolitical realities. Venice faced now military and administrative authority, was t~sttongexpansionist state. This, and the fact introduced in 1569. Local nobility, Italian and that the local Greek population, especially the Greek speaking, had limited authority, being kkspeaking nobility, could no longer refer only consulted in its collective bodies: the b an independent Greek political center, Consilium Feudatorum, the Maggior brought a mutual change of attitudes. Consilium and the Consilium Rogatorum. 3 Figure 1. From Sebastian Miinster's Cosmographia, ca. 1544. Venice and Crete

During the four centuries of Venetian Following the capture of the Venetian pos- administration Cretan society remained almost sessions in the Peloponnese by the Ottomans unchanged. It was strongly stratified, with the in November 1540, the Mormoris fled local nobility at the top (nobili), followed by Nafplion. Members of the family settled in the the urban middle class (cittadini). The bottom Ionian islands, along the Western coast of of the social scale was occupied by the urban Greece, where they soon joined the local nobil- poor (plebe) and the peasants, either free or ity; others settled in Venice, while another serfs (contadini, villani). branch of the family moved to Crete. The Cretan Mormoris distinguished themselves in A few years ago I published with commen- many fields of social activity. Thus, a Marco tary three Venetian manuscripts, * seen at Mormori, a notary in Candia, is mentioned in McGill and initially recorded by Seymour de 155 5 ;a Giovanni Mormori, "ingegniero", was Ricci, concerning Emmanuel Mormori, a killed in June 1571 during the siege of Cretan officer in the service of the Venetian Ammochostos (Famagusta) by the Ottomans; Republic in the sixteenth century. Recently, an "Ioannes Marmorius cretensis" graduated I was pleasantly surprised to be told by Dr. from the University of Padua in 158 1; Jacomo Richard Virr, Curator of Manuscripts, Mormori contributed financially to the Cretan Department of Rare Books and Special participation in the battle of Lepanto and is Collections, McLennan Library, that the mentioned in the manuscripts as commander Department preserves a number of uncatalo- of the "stradioti" stationed in Candia.' gued Venetian manuscripts. As a researcher I Following his death he was succeeded in this was gratified with the study and analysis of position by his son Z~rzi.~ these new manuscripts which further increased my respect for McGill's as yet rela- The family continued to be mentioned in tively unknown and uncatalogued collection of seventeenth century records from Crete and manuscripts. Venice. Following the occupation of Candia by the Ottomans in 1669, they became, once To the three published Mormori manu- more, refugees.9 The McGill manuscripts also scripts are now added seven referring to other mention two previously unknown eighteenth members of the family. Among them one century descendants of the family: "capitano" refers again to Emmanuel. The three pub- Zorzi Mormori, in 1718, and "sargente lished manuscripts have now been maggiore" Antonio Mormori, in 1730. re-catalogued and are part of the Mormori family manuscripts. These manuscripts are The documents are followed by five referring to the activities of Ms 68711. Vellum, 464x35 1 mm. One col- the Veneto-Cretan Cattaneo family; also by umn, 18 lines. Ducal letter referring to Zorzi three referring to Donato Michieli, an army Mormori. Dated 1 June 1575. Doge Alvise engineer, and finally by a "livello" (long term Mocenigo I (1570-1577). lease) executed in Candia in the late sixteenth r. "Aloysius Mocenigo Dei Gratia Dux century. With the exception of the introduc- Venetiarum etc.. ..I.. .Datae in N(ost)ro Ducali tory and closing sentences, which are in Latin, Palatio Die prima Junii, Indictione tertia, the rest of the texts are composed in Italian. MDLXXV". Registrations in Crete: 24 May 1576, 25 May MORMORI FAMILY 1576. v. "Nobilibus et sap(ientibus) viris Jacobo The Mormori family referred to in ten doc- Fuscareno equiti Provisori g(e)n(er)ali ac uments (MS 687) came, originally, from Inquisitori in regno n(ost)ro Cretae nec v(ir)o Nafplion, in the Peloponnese. The first known Aloysio Justiniano Ducha et co(n)siliariis ac Mormori was a wealthy landlord, whose first Paulo Cont(ari)nocap(itane)o Cretae et eorum name was Emmanuel. He was married, in the suce(ssori)bus" . late fifteenth century, to a lady from the pow- Note : " 15 7 5, del ~(avaliere)d(omino) Zorzi erful feudal family of Buas. 6 M(ormo)riU. Venice and Crete

This Ducal letter informs Jacomo Foscarini, During or shortly before the plague epi- Provveditore Generale in Crete, Alvise demic which hit Crete from January 1592 to Justiniano, Duke of Crete, and Paolo July 1594, Zorzi Mormori was named Contarini, Captain of Crete, about Zorzi "sopraintendente alla sanita" for the city of Mormori's appointment as Commander of the Candia. He had almost dictatorial authority, "stradioti" stationed in the island. He suc- overseeing and directing all activities related ceeded, in the position, his father Jacomo to health conditions in the city of Candia. Mormori, who had recently died. The Doge During the period referred to by the manu- informs the Cretan authorities about Zorzi's script Zorzi Mormori suffered heavily. Indeed, distinguished record during the war against he lost many members of his family, including the Ottomans in 1570-71, and his subsequent four sons. Filippo Pasqualigo recognized reward with a "cattena d'oro di ducati cin- Mormori's contribution and sacrifices and rec- quanta" and the title of cavaliere. ommended him warmly to his successors. Ms 68712. Vellum, 535 X 430 mm. One Ms 68714. Vellum, 576 X 357 mm. One col- column, 22 lines. Ducal decree dated 20 June umn, 15 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalf of 1575, conferring upon Zorzi Mormori rewards Zorzi Mormori. Dated 20 April 1611. Doge for distinguished services during the war of Leonardo Dona (1606- 1612). (Figure 3) 1570-71, against the Ottomans. Doge Alvise r. "Leonardus Donato, Dei Gratia Dux Mocenigo I (1570-1 577). (Figure 2) Venetiarum etc.. ../. ..Data in N(ost)ro Ducali r. "Aloysius Mocenigo Dei Gratia Dux Palatio. Die XX Aprilis Indictione nona I Venetiarum.. .I...Data in Nostro Ducali MDCXI / Roberto Lio / Segretario". Palacio. Dia vigessima Iunii, Indictione tertia v. "Del D(omino) Zorzi M(ortno)ri. MDLXXV". Registrata nel libro di Ca(nce)ll(a)r(ia)dell v. Initials 1.F.O.T.h. and note: "del c(ava- M(assa)r(ia)del ragionato fiscal di Candia. 113. liere) Zorzi M(ormo)ri 1575". / Emanuel Mormori Cav(alier), 16 11, No 29". The decree mentions Zorzi Mormori's par- By 161 1 Zorzi Mormori had been serving ticipation and achievements in the battles of the Republic for over thirty years. In the Ducal Chimara, Soppoto, Margariti and Santa Maura letter he is referred to as Commander of the (Leucas) on the Epirotan and Albanian coast- fortress of Suda in Western Crete. He is given line, as well as during the Ottoman landings an annual salary increase of 100 ducats, from in Corfu, where he took prisoner the Cretan 500 "servendo" and 400 "non servendo" to 600 renegade Hasan Baffi. The decree confers "servendo" and 500 "non servendo". His house upon him the title of cavaliere along with the is referred to as "honoratissima casa". accompanying distinction of carrying the rega- The note on the verso referring to the reg- lia attached to the title. He also receives a istration of the letter carries the signature of golden chain from the Doge. "Emanuel Mormori cavalier". '' Ms 68713. Vellum, 402 X 257 mm. One col- Ms 68715 (de Ricci 161). Vellum, umn, 15 lines. Document issued by Filippo 435 X 337 mm. One column, 9 lines. Ducal Pasqualigo "capitano di Candia" recognizing letter issued on behalf of Emmanuel Mormori. the contribution of Zorzi Mormori to the fight Dated 8 July 1583. Doge Nicolo Daponte against the plague, in his capacity as "soprain- (1578- 1585). (Figure 4) tendente alla sanita". lo Document issued in r. "Nicolaus Daponte Dei Gratia Dux Candia. Dated 19 May 1594. Venetiarum etc.. ..lDatae in Nostro Ducali r. "Noi Filippo Pasqualigo per la ser(enis- Palatio, Die VIII Iulii, Indictioni XI, si)ma sig(no)ria di Venetia etc. Cap(itan)o di MDLXXXIII". Candia.. ./. ..Dato di Candia alli 19 di Maggio v. "Nobili et sapienti viro Aloysio / Grimano 1594. Filippo Pasqualigo Cap(itan)o. Nicolo Provisori Nostro Generali 1 in Nostro Regno Drasotto Canc(e1ie)re dell Ill(ustrissi)mo Cretae." S(ignor) Cap(itan)o di Candia .. . ". v. Note: "Del ~(avaliere)D(omino) Zorzi The Ducal letter addressed to Alvise M(ormo)ri, 1594, No 73". Grimani, Proweditore Generale in Crete, Venice and Crete

Figure 2. Doge Alvise Mocenigo, 1570-1577. From Leone Matina, Ducalis Regiae Lararium... Padua, 1659.

59 Venice and Crete

mentions Colonel Emmanuel Mormori's v. "Nobili et sapienti viro Federico / Nani, appointment as Commander of the local Provisori Generale in 1 Dalmatia". Infantry units ("ordinanze"). He replaced Antonio Emiliani, from Ascoli, and was to Federico Nani is informed that he has to receive an annual salary of 500 ducats. facilitate the transport by sea of a cavalry unit ("stradioti") dispatched from Dalmatia to Ms 68716 (de Ricci 162). Vellum, Candia, as well as of the baggage of Emmanuel 460 X 625 mm. One column, 30 lines. Ducal Mormori, who is also travelling to Candia. letter addressed to Emmanuel Mormori. The letter probably refers to Emmanuel Dated 3 July 1590. Doge Pasquale Cicogna Mormori's return trip to Crete, following his (1585-1595). participation in the military operations against r. "Nos Paschalis Ciconia, Dei Gratia, Dux Alfonso Piccolomini, a period from the middle Venetiarum, etc.. ../ Datae in Nostro Ducali of June 1590 to the 16th of March 1591, when Palatio Die IIIa Iulii, Indictione tertia, the rebel was executed in Florence. MDXC". v. "Del C(ava1iere) Collonel Mormori"; "Del Ms 68718 (de Ricci 163). Vellum, C(ava1iere) Emmanuel M(ormo)ri Collonel." 463 X 330 mm. One column, 7 lines. Ducal letter on behalf of Emmanuel Mormori. Dated The letter is addressed to Emmanuel 16 July 1592. Doge Pasquale Cicogna Mormori by Doge Pasquale Cicogna. It sets (1585-1 595). out his responsibilities during the operations r. "Pascalis Ciconia, Dei Gratia Dux against Alfonso Piccolomini, Lord of Venetiarum, etc.. ../ Datae in Nostro Ducali Montemarciano. Mormori was to act in close Palatio, Die XVI Iulii, Indictione V, collaboration with the Venetian authorities in MDLXXXXII. " Chioza, Adri, Loreo, Rovigo and elsewhere. v. "Nobili et sapienti viro Ioanni I Mocenigo His task was to act according to circumstances Provisori Nostro / Generali in Regno Cretae." and avoid any disastrous encounter with the Pasquale Cicogna informs Giovanni rebel. Besides his own infantrymen Mormori's Mocenigo, "Proweditore Generale" in Crete, force was composed of Proweditore Grimani's that Emmanuel Mormori will be placed under ten "cappeletti", Captain Francesco Canuova's his command. He is to employ him according Infantry unit, Gregorio Detrico's fifty "cappe- to the needs. Mormori's annual salary amounts letti", Giulio Savorgnan's twenty light horse- to six hundred ducats. men as well as by men put under his command by the Rectors of Chioza, Adri, Cavarzere and Ms 68719. Vellum, 426 X 300 mm. One col- Loredo, who were described as bombard oper- umn, 10 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalfof ators, militiamen or possessing other military Zorzi And. Mormori. Dated 28 May 1718. skills. He was, furthermore, instructed to ask Doge Giovanni Corner I1 (1709-1722). for any additionnal assistance he thought nec- r. "Ioanis Cornelio Dei Gratia Dux essary. He was given liberty to take any nec- Vene(tiarum) etc.. ../ .. .Data in Nostro Ducali essary action required to prevent Piccolomini Palatio die vigessima octava maii indictioni from entering Venetian held territory. l2 undecima, anno MDCCXVIII". V. no notes. Ms 68717. Vellum, 476 X 35 5 mm. One col- The letter refers to "capitano" Zorzi And. umn, 8 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalf of Mormori's posting as "capitano de battaglione" Emmanuel Mormori and addressed to in one of the units formed in Treviso and pre- Federico Nani, "Provveditore Generale" in paring to move to the Levant. The document Dalmatia. Dated 8 April 1591. Doge Pasquale fixes his monthly salary at 40 ducats. Zorzi Cicogna (1585-1595). And. Mormori is designated as "di famiglia r. "Pascalis Ciconia Dei Gratia Dux nobile e distinta". Venetiarum etc.. ../ .. .Data in Nostro Ducali Palatio, Die VIII Aprilis, Indictione quarta. Ms 687110. Vellum, 446 X 307 mm. One MDLXXXXI / Gio(vanni) Ba(tis)ta Padavin column, 8 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalf sec(retari)oW. of Antonio Mormori. Dated 18 July 1730.

60 Venice and Crete

Pigwe 3. Doge Leonardo Dona, 1606-1612. From Leone Matina, Ducalis Regiae Lararium... Padua, 1659. Venice and Crete

Doge Alvise Mocenigo 111 (1722- 1732). Romano. He next taught in Venice at the r. "Aloysius Mocenigo Dei Gratia Dux Collegio Greco Flangini; in 1686 the Senate Venetiarum etc.. ..I. .. Datae in Nostro Ducali offered him the Chair of Philosophy at the Palatio die decima octava Julii, Indictione University of Padua. He taught there until octava. MDCCXXX". 17 10, when he returned to Venice. He died in Follow registration notes. 1725, leaving behind a strong reputation of v. no notes. scholarship and eloquence. His sons Giovanni and Pietro published his works posthumously The letter refers to the appointment of (1736). l4 Giovanni (1691?-1761) is best known Antonio Mormori to the position of "Sargente as opponent of the Enlightenment. He Maggiore" in the Regiment of the city of attacked the scientific and philosophic culture Rovigo. Mormori is already serving there and of his century and defended Catholicism with he commands a Company of the same passion. He was convinced that very soon the Regiment. He is described as an able and effi- whole edifice of modern astronomy was going cient officer. This had been proven during the to collapse ("non passera gran tempo, che tutto tests and military games performed in Verona. il van0 dell'astronomia moderna cadera"). It is true, however, that during the final period of CATTANEO FAMILY Venetian independence Cattaneo's conserva- tism was widely emulated among his fellow Manuscript 68815 indicates that the citizens. Cattaneo family arrived in Crete with the first Venetian settlers. That mission (12 1011 1) was The documents are: composed of 132 cavalieri and 48 sargenti. The "feudati" were given lands, houses and serfs Ms 6881 1. Vellum, 540 X 375 mm. One col- (villani) attached to the land. Initially, the for- umn, 15 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalf of eign, Italian speaking, nobility's relations with Giovanni Cattaneo. Dated 10 March 1657. the indigenous Greek speaking one were Doge Bertucci Valier (1656- 1658). tense. Soon, however, from the early thir- r. "Bertuccius Valerio Dei Gratia Dux teenth century, compromises, agreements and Venetiarum etc.. ../Data in 1 Nostro Ducali Venetian concessions, melted the ice which Palatio Die Decima Martii, Indictione Decima separated the two aristocracies. A "nobilitas MDCLVII. 1 Ant(oni)o di Negri / Seg(reta)rion. Cretense" emerged, having common socio- On top and on left margin registrations at economic and political interests13 Corfu, Zante and Cephalonia. Characteristically, manuscript 68813, dating V. no notes. from 1692, still refers to Pietro Cattaneo as "nobil Cretense". The letter mentions the heroic acts performed by "il capitan" Giovanni Cattaneo dur- The five McGill manuscripts (688) which refer to the Cattaneo family mention Giovanni ing the siege of Canea, where he lost five Cattaneo's heroic deeds during the Ottoman- brothers, and his participation in the operations against the Ottomans in the Dardanelles, Venetian struggle for control of Crete Monemvasia, Tenedos and Lemnos. l5 (1645-1669). During the war he lost his five Giovanni's salary is fixed to 400 ducats brothers. It appears, from the documents, that annually. Giovanni was the most important member of the family. Ms 68812. Vellum, 400 X 290 mm. One col- The family was in fact distinguished not umn, 16 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalfof only for the martial feats of its members, but Giovanni Cattaneo. Dated 10 May 1692. Doge also for the literary and intellectual preoccu- Francesco Morosini (1688- 1694). pations of some of its scions. Manuscript 68815 r. "Francescus Mavrogeno Dei Gratia Dux mentions Giovanni's son Tommaso professore- Venetiarum etc.. ../.. .Data in / N(ost)ro Ducali .. . nell' Universita nostra di Padova". Tommaso Palatio. Die decima Maii I Indictione decima born in Corfu in 1660, received his doctorate quinta. MDCLXXXXII". in Philosophy and Theology from the Collegio V. no notes. Venice and Crete

Figure 4. Doge Nicolo Daponte, 1578-1585. From Leone Matina, Ducalis Regiae Lararium ... Padua, 1659. Venice and Crete

This document mentions past services per- half ducats monthly, until he reaches the grade formed by "il Governator" Giovanni Cattaneo, of Company Captain. during the war against the Ottomans. It also Ms 68815. Vellum, 470 X 340 mm. One col- mentions the loss of his five brothers during umn, 30 lines. Memorandum about the activ- the siege of Canea in 1645. Giovanni Cattaneo ities of various members of the Cattaneo fam- is now Governor of Bergamo. At the expira- ily. Based on "Libri, Chroniche, Decretti et tion of his term his annual salary will be fixed Ducali dell Eccel(entissi)mo Senato". at 500 ducats. Composed by Francesco Bonamino "Publicus Ms 68813. Vellum, 463 X 35 5. One column, Venetiae Notarius". Dated 30 August 1739. 19 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalf of Pietro r. "Punti pertinenti alla fammiglia Cataneo, Cattaneo, Giovanni's son. Dated 6 August nobile Feudatoria Cretense I.. .et sign(at) abs- 1692. Doge Francesco Morosini (1688- 1694). que Reg(ist)ron. V. no notes. r. "Franciscus Maurogeno Dei Gratia Dux Venetiarum etc.. ../ Data in N(ost)ro Ducali This document records the arrival of the Palatio. Die / sexta Augusti, Indictione Xma family in Crete in 1210. The Cattaneos were 5ta. MDCLXXXXII / Felice Gallo among the first Venetian settlers and this is Seg(reta)rioW. supported by official documents. Two Followed by registration note. branches of the family are mentioned. The one V. no notes. that remained in Venice died out after 1400. Of the surviving branch, Giovanni Cattaneo The document refers to the participation of and his five brothers who were killed in Canea, "il capitan" Pietro Cattaneo "nobil Cretense" are again mentioned. His son Pietro is also and son of Giovanni Cattaneo in the last war mentioned followed by an account of his against the Ottomans. Again Giovanni's heroic achievements during the wars against the deeds are mentioned and also, this time, his Ottomans in the late 17th and early 18th cen- capture by the Turks. Pietro Cattaneo is named turies. Tomaso Cattaneo, well known "profes- Commander for life of a Company of Corsican sore.. .nell'universita nostra di Padova", is infantrymen. mentioned next. He is Giovanni's son and Pietro's brother also. Ms 68814. Vellum, 463 X 325 mm. One column. 11 lines. Ducal letter issued on behalf of MICHIEL1 ~ernardinCattaneo, nephew of Giovanni The Michieli or Michiel family appeared Cattaneo. Dated 3 March 1729. Doge Alvise early in Venetian history. Three Doges, who Mocenigo 111 (1722-1732). belonged to the family, are mentioned in the r. "Aloysius Mocenigo Dei Gratia Dux XIIth century: Vitale I (1096-1 102), Domenico Venetiarum etc.. ../. ..Data in Nostro Ducali (1 117-1 129) and Vitale I1 (1156-1172).16 Palatio die Tertia Martii Indictione Septima. Among members of the family who were MDCCXXVIV". active in the Levant, are Giovanni, Venetian Followed by registration notes. podesta in Constantinople in 1238, Domenico, v. Illegible note. active in Crete in 1355, Luca, proweditore in Crete in the 15705, and Marino, who fought The document refers to Bernardin as the against the Ottomans in 1668 and 1687. "unico in presente rimasto" descendant of the Cattaneo family. He is also the grand-son of The Michieli manuscripts (689) reflect Giovanni Cattaneo, whose deeds are again events of the 1684-1718 war against the mentioned along with his brothers deaths dur- Ottomans, during which Venice annexed the ing the siege of Canea in 1645. The Great Peloponnese (Treaty of Carlowitz, January Council feels that it has to reward, in the per- 1699) to lose it again to the Ottomans by the son of Bernardin, the noble Veneto-Cretan Treaty of Passarowitz (July 17 18). During oper- family for what its members did for the ations in the Peloponnese, Donato Michieli Republic. Bernardin, who now receives a foot- served as army engineer, being wounded seven soldier's pay, is to receive more, seven and a times. I .h ' Jh I Figure 5. Letter of Doge Francesco Morosini, 1688-1694. MS 68911. Venice and Crete

The documents are: Palatio. Die vigessima tertia Maii, Indictione 8a. MDCCXV". Ms 68911. Vellum, 670 X 405 mm. One column, 14 lines. Ducal letter referring to Donato V. no notes. Michieli. Dated 26 March 1692. Doge By the year 17 15 Donato Michieli had been Francesco Morosini (1688-1694). (Figure 5) serving in the army corps of engineers for r. "Francescus Mauroceno Dei Gra(tia) Dux thirty years. He had reached the rank of Venetiarum etc.1.. .Data in Nostro Ducali Lieutenant Colonel and had served the Palatio. Dia vigessima sexta Martii, Indictione Republic faithfully, constantly providing proof Xma I 5ta. MDCLXXXXII. / Felice Gallo of his skills. At the time of the letter, Michieli seg(retari0). was serving in the Lagoon area, he was Followed by registration note: 28 August "Luogotenente Maggior" of Lido where he dis- 1692. tinguished himself in finding ways to carryon v. Note: "No 3". efficiently his military and engineering duties. Doge Morosini expresses his satisfaction He was congratulated by the Doge. with Donato Michieli's contribution to the war A "Livello". effort in 1690. Michieli, an army engineer, had received a monthly salary of 40 ducats. An Ms 690. Vellum, 332 X 400 mm. One cola increase is now decreed and his new monthly umn, 48 lines. First nine lines imperfect. Long salary will reach 50 ducats. term lease (Livello) contract between Zuan- Battista Pasqualigo, his brothers and Giacomo Ms 68912. Vellum, 390 X 290 mm. One col- dxrtona, from Candia, for the amount of 52 umn, 20 lines. Ducal letter referring to Donato ducats annually. Document composed by Michieli. Dated 28 June 1704. Doge Alvise George Dafnomili, Notary. Dated 10 February Mocenigo I1 (1700-1709). 1589. r. "Aloysius Mocenigo, Dei Gratia Dux r. "In Christi Gloriosissimi Nomini Amen. Venetiarum, etc.. ../ Data in Nostro Ducali Anno (n)ativitatis eiusdem Milles(si)moquiw Palatio. Die vigessima octava Iunii, Indictione g(essi)mo ottog(essi)mo nono ...I.. . Georgius XIIo, MDCCIIII". Dafnomili (Pu)b(li)cus Notarius manu p(nr Followed by registration note: 12 July 1704. )p(ri)a scripsit". v. "S. Collo(nelo) Dona Michieli". v. "1589, 10 Feb(ruari)o. Liv(el1ari)o fatto This Ducal letter cites Michieli's accom- ... I... Der ducati 52 all'anno". plishments during the last war against the Ottomans. He served the Republic well and The document provides a list of property to even carries, on his body, seven scars from be leased by the absentee Pasqualigo landlords wounds he received in the battles in which he to Giacomo d'Artona from Candia, for the participated in the Peloponnese. He has been annual amount of 52 ducats, with all the legal given as a reward, the command for life of an terms and conditions attached, in accordance army company stationed in the Venetian Terra with the law. The terms of the lease are written Ferma. Michieli, however, wants to serve in by the Candiote notary George Dafnomili, and Dalmatia and leave the command of his com- witnessed by four persons. The lease refers to pany to his son Angelo, who, in turn, will sections of three fiefs: one situated in the dis- receive a Captain's salary, his father having trict of "castel nuovo", the second designated offered to serve in Dalmatia as a volunteer. His under the name of Fam(a)chia and the third request is accepted and confirmed bv the under that of Giofirachia. ~Gcalletter. Venice was resent in Crete for more than four and a haif centuries, that is from 12H Ms 68913. 425 300 mm. One until 1669. Its influence was pervasive and. umn, 22 lines. Ducal letter referring to Donato many respects, especially culturalones, Michieli. Dated 23 May 1715. Doge Giovanni In fact the Venetian connection hu& Corner I1 (1709-1722). the island into the mainstream of Eurowao r. "Ioannes Cornelio, Dei Gratia, Dux Renaissance. On a more practical seal; tk Venetiarum, etc.. ../ Data in Nostro Ducali Republic clung to Crete, thus defending io Venice and Crete own geopolitical interests, with a tenacity Notes being, at times, close to ruthlessness. The documents, catalogued and described here, reflect that presence and influence and contribute, in Acknowledgement: I wish to express my grat- this capacity, to the long history of Venetian itude to Dr. Richard Virr, Curator of presence in the Levant and to its struggle Manuscripts, Department of Rare Books and against the Ottomans. Special Collections, McLennan Library, for bringing these manuscripts to my attention; for making them available to me; for showing a spirit of collegiality; and for being most help- ful throughout. 1. S. Borsari, Il dominio ueneziano a Creta nel XIlZ secolo (Naples, 1963), 12- 13.

2. I. G. Giannopoulos, 'H Kp+q K~T&T~V T~T~PTOPEVETOT~U~KLK~ ndh~p,~ (1570- 157 1) (Athens, 1978), 25, 257. 3. F. Thiriet, La Romanie ve'nitienne au moyen-2ge (Paris 1975), 205-206. 4. D. Bernicolas-Hatzopoulos, "Emmanuel Mormori and the Alfonso Piccolomini Incident", Thesaurismata, vol. 19 (1982), 90-101. 5. de Ricci, S. -Wilson, W.J., Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada (New York, 1935-1940), vol. 2, 2220-2221, nos 161, 162, 163. 6. E. Liatas, "Mv~i~st)avoi~wv 'EXA*jvwv ~4s BEVET~~Sdin6 ~oi T(Y~LCYK& PiPAia 74s 6XA-qvi~rjs 'ASEA~~T~TCYST&V ;TAU 1536- 1576," Tbesazi- rismata, vol. 11 (1974), 22 1, no. 80. 7. The "stradioti", from the Greek word for soldier, formed lightly armed cavalry units. They were young men of Greek and Albanian origin. For centuries they were the backbone of the Venetian armies fighting in the Levant against the Ottomans. See: D. Nicol, Byzantium and Venice: A study in Diplomatic and Cultural Relations, (Cambridge, 1988), 417; and, in A. Vacalopoulos, 'Icr~opiaTOW viov 6Xhqv~trp,o(*,(Thessaloniki, 1968), vol. 3, 5-6, 26-31, where the nature and importance of the "stradioti" are examined extensively. 8. For information on the Mormori family see: I. K. Chassiotes, 0i"EAAqvts tr~isnap~upo- vis T~Svaupa~ias ~rjs Navndut~ov 'EKKA(UELS ~~(YVCYCTT(YTLK~SKLV+JELS KCXi &€~(JELS UT~V6hAq- VLK~~XE~(T(~~(TO dnd T~STCY~~Y~OV;S &S 76 T&OS~oi) Venice and Crete

KUT~L~KO~~ohikou. Also, D.B.Hatzopoulos, 94- 101, especially on Emmanuel Mormori.

9. S. Antoniades, "O~KOVO~LKT~K~T&T~UT) ~6.w ~~XEOVTT~S Kp+rqs K(YT& TT~V6~0x4 TOG .rroAikou 1645- 1669. CuvahAayis 706 rewpyiou Mdpp,opq, " Tbesaurismata, vol. 4 (1967), 38-52. 10. On the measures taken by the Venetian authorities on health issues, especially during plague epidemics, see: G. Lotter, "L'organizzazione sanitaria a Venezia", Venezia e la peste, 134811797 (Venice, 1979), 99-102. 11. Emmanuel Mormori is also referred to as Zorzi's brother. See: M. Lambrynides, 'H NaunXia and T&V &~X~LOT&TWVxpovwv pixp ~hv ~a0'+L& (Athens, 1898), 98. 12. On the Alfonso Piccolomini rebellion see: D. B. Hatzopoulos, 98-99. 13. S. Xanthoudides, 'H 'Ev~~o~pa~ia