Jacopo Tiepolo

Jacopo (Giacomo) Tiepolo (born Venice; died 19 July 1249, Venice) was Doge of Venice from 6 March 1229 to 2 May 1249. Previously, served as a first Venetian duke of Crete and podestà in Constantinople (1218-1220 and 1224-1227).

At the election for doge, Tiepolo and his rival Marino Dandolo were tied at 20 votes each, and Tiepolo was selected by drawing lots. This is thought to have sparked the feud between the Tiepolo, who were an old aristocratic family and the Dandolo, who were seen as a nouveau-riches. Prior to ascending the ducal throne, Tiepolo also had to sign a trational promissione, which seriously limited his powers.

Despite Frederick II Hohenstaufen's cordial visit in Venice in 1232, the relations between the emperor and the Republic deteriorated and, in 1239, Venice joined the Lombard League and fought against Ezzelino III da Romano, a powerful ally of Frederick. In the subsequent fights the Doge's son, Pietro Tiepolo, was captured at the battle of Cortenuova 1237 and died in prison in South Italy.

Jacopo Tiepolo's reign brought other important events: In 1242 the Doge proclaimed Statuto, the codification of the Venetian civil law - work begun by Doge Enrico Dandolo. In the 1240s, two great mendicant orders: the Dominicans and the Franciscans, were granted land in the city and later built on it the two biggest churches in Venice, Santi Giovanni e Paolo, (called San Zanipolo) and Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

In 1249 Tiepolo abdicated, retired to his own house and died after a few months. He was buried in the church of San Zanipolo.

Jacopo Tiepolo was the father of Lorenzo Tiepolo who served as doge from 1268 to 1275 and the aforementioned Pietro Tiepolo, podestà of Padua.

Political offices
Preceded by
Pietro Ziani
Doge of Venice
1229 – 1249
Succeeded by
Marino Morosini