Search Results - Giustiniani, Bernardo 1408-1489

Bernardo Giustiniani

Bernardo Giustiniani (6 January 1408 – 10 March 1489) was a Renaissance humanist and diplomat of the Republic of Venice.

Giustiniani held numerous political offices in Venice over his long career, but he made his name as a diplomat. He was elected ambassador ten times, actually going abroad nine times. His first embassy was to the coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick III, in Rome in 1452. He was sent to Naples in 1458 and again in 1470. In 1461–1462, he led a failed embassy to France. He led two embassies to congratulate a newly elected pope: Pius II (1462–1463) and Sixtus IV (1471–1472). He was also sent to Paul II in 1466. His final embassies involved local states, Ferrara in 1473 and Milan in 1485. Although he did not leave Venice, he engaged in diplomacy by letter before, during and after the War of Ferrara (1482–1484). A major theme of his embassies was the crusade against the Ottoman Empire, which he discussed with the emperor, the kings of Naples and France and popes Pius and Sixtus.

A learned man, Giustiniani translated classics, dabbled in poetry and wrote a history of Venice, as well as hagiography. Praised by contemproaries for his oratorical skills, a large number of his speeches are preserved, as well as much of his correspondence. Provided by Wikipedia