FRANCESCO MOROSINI (1618-94) was one of the greatest cap tains of his time. He fought against the Turks and the pirates, and after distinguishing himself at the battle of Naxos in 165o he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Venetian navy. He conducted a series of successful campaigns against the Turks, but was recalled in consequence of the intrigues of his rival the Prov veditore Antonio Barbaro (1661). But when Candia was at tacked Morosini was sent to relieve it in 1667 ; the siege lasted 18 months, but Morosini was forced to surrender to save the surviving inhabitants. He was tried but acquitted of all blame, and on the renewal of the war with the Turkish Empire in 1684 he was again appointed commander-in-chief, and after several brilliant victories he reconquered the Peloponnesus and Athens; on his return to Venice he was loaded with honours and given the title of "Peloponnesiaco." In 1688 he was elected doge, and
in 1693 he took command of the Venetian forces against the Turks for the fourth time ; the enemy, which had been cruising in the archipelago, withdrew at his approach, so great was the terror inspired by his name. He died at Napoli di Romania (Nauplia) on Jan. 6, Genealogia delle famiglie patrizie venete, ms., clas. vii., cod. 927, in the Marcian Library, Venice ; Cappellari, Campidoglio veneto, ms., clas. vii., cod. i7, ibid.; Romanin, Storia documentata di Venezia, also other general Venetian histories; G. Dalla Santa, Due Lettere di umanisti veneziani a Paolo Morosini (in Nuovo archivio veneto, xix. 92) ; G. Graziani's life of F. Morosini in Latin (Padua, 1698) ; A. Arrighi, Vita di F. M. (Padua, 1449). (See also VENICE.)