Alessandra Galbaio (753-) was the wife of Leone Galbaio and the lover of his brother Doge Giovanni of Venice.
Biography[]
Alessandra was born to a lowborn family of Catholic Italians in Venice, and in 769 she married Leone Galbaio at the age of 16. When her husband died under suspicious circumstances in 773, she was widowed, but in 777 she began to fancy her former brother-in-law Doge Giovanni of Venice. On 15 January 777 Giovanni went to her chamber and gave her "a good tumble", making his move on her. She gave birth to Antonella Galbaio in October, and her husband acknowledged that she was his child, although she remained illegitimate. Alessandra had a clandestine sexual relationship with Giovanni in the following years, remaining as his mistress despite his commitment to having the House of Galbaio be prestigious and pristine.