Doge Maurizio of Venice (726-3 July 770) was the Doge of Venice from 764 to 770, succeeding Doge Domenico of Venice and preceding Doge Teodato of Venice.
Biography[]
Maurizio was born in 726 to the House of Galbaio, a dynasty of Catholic Italians from the city of Venice. They were a powerful family, and in 764 he gained enough respect to be elected as the Doge of the Republic of Venice, bringing his family to the forefront of Venetian politics. He had two sons: Giovanni and Leone Galbaio, both with an unknown mother. On 29 January 769 he married Claudia Sorrenti, the daughter of Patrician Martino of Sorrenti in the Republic of Amalfi.
During his tenure as doge, he faced opposition from the other major houses. Maurizio hired two food-tasters and a bodyguard for himself on 3 January 769, fearing that someone would try to kill him. In 770, rumors spread that some people were plotting his murder, so he decided that he would watch his back. Maurizio was not murdered, however; he died after a period of illness on 3 July 770 at the age of 44. His sons believed that he may have been murdered, although it is accepted that he died of natural causes.