CONTARINI, a distinguished Venetian family, who gave to the republic eight doges and many other eminent citizens. The story of their descent from the Roman family of Cotta, appointed prefects of the Reno valley (whence Cotta Reni or Conti del Reno), is probably a legend. One Mario Contarini was among the 12 electors of the doge Paulo Lucio Anafesto in 697. Domen ico Contarini, elected doge in io43, subjugated rebellious Dalmatia and recaptured Grado from the patriarch of Aquileia. He died in Io7o. Jacopo was doge from 1275 to 1280. Andrea was elected doge in 1367; during his reign the war of Chioggia took place (138o) ; he was the first to melt down his plate and mortgage his property for the benefit of the state. Other Contarini doges were: Francesco (1623-24), Niccolo (1630-31), who built the church of the Salute, Carlo (1655-56), during whose reign the Venetians gained the naval victory of the Dar danelles, Domenico (1659-75) and Alvise (1676-84). Many members of the family distinguished themselves in the wars against the Turks, and no less than seven Contarini fought at Lepanto. Other members of the house were famous as merchants, prelates and men of letters; among these we may mention Cardinal Gasparo Contarini (1483-1542), and Marco Contarini (1631-89), who was celebrated as a patron of music and collected at his villa of Piazzola a large number of valuable musical mss., now in the Marciana library at Venice.
See J. Fontana, "Sulla patrizia famiglia Contarini," in 11 Gondoliere 0843) •