Carlo Ruzzini

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Carlo Ruzzini (1653–1735) was a Venetian diplomat and statesman who became the doge of Venice from 1732 to 1735. Born in Venice to a wealthy family, he started public service at 26 by running the Venetian Arsenal, then moved into diplomacy. He served as Venice’s ambassador to Madrid in 1691, to Vienna in 1698–99 where he helped arrange Peter the Great’s visit (which failed due to events in Moscow), and he participated in the Carlowitz negotiations.

Despite early criticisms for caution, he continued to receive important posts, including The Hague (1706), the Ottoman court (1707), and Vienna again, as well as being Ambassador Extraordinary at Utrecht in 1712. After the wars with Turkey, he took part in the 1718 peace talks at Passarowitz. He later returned to Constantinople, but illness brought him home. He ran for doge in 1722 but lost to Mocenigo. When Mocenigo died in 1732, Ruzzini was elected doge with broad support. His reign was short and focused on keeping Venice neutral. He died in Venice in 1735 at age 81.