Emilio Barbarigo (2 September 1421-11 September 1485) was a Venetian merchant guild leader during the 15th century. Emilio was a scion of the wealthy and powerful House of Barbarigo, and he used his family's influence and money to fund the Venetian police force, allowing for his businesses to prosper without taxation and for him to ruthlessly crack down on opposition. During the 1480s, he attempted to consolidate all of Venice's merchants into a single guild, but he was murdered at the Palazzo della Seta in 1485.
Biography[]
Emilio Barbarigo killing Jacopo de Pazzi
Emilio Barbarigo was born to the noble House of Barbarigo, who made their money off of the silk and spice trade. He was the younger brother of Agostino Barbarigo and Marco Barbarigo, both of whom would become Doges of Venice. Using the might of his family, Barbarigo was able to fund the Venetian police force, which let his business go without taxes and it also meant the reduction of crime and opposition. Barbarigo became a virtual merchant dictator over Venice's markets, taking over the commerce of the city and only selling his products.
In 1480 he joined the Knights Templar after invitation by Rodrigo Borgia, a Spaniard who was anxious to gain power across Italy so that one day he could become the Pope and bring the Italian Peninsula under Templar Order control. Barbarigo decided to cooperate in exchange for being made the ruler of Venezia. His first act as a member of the Templars was executing Jacopo de Pazzi, who had failed to bring down the House of Medici. Afterward, he returned to the Palazzo della Seta, which was his expensive estate.
A year later, he defeated an attempt by the Thieves' Guild to break into his home and used it to increase his defenses. He forced the Thieves to resupply and gather more plans, and he continued to hunt down the opposition. He turned some of Antonio de Magianis' men against him through bribery and blackmail, so assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze killed all three of the traitors.
Death[]
Barbarigo's murder
Using disguises looted from three chests and a boat, the Thieves' Guild and Ezio attacked the palace. Ezio snuck into the interior courtyard, where he heard Carlo Grimaldi warning Emilio that his house of cards was crumbling and that Seta was the next target. Emilio said that it was a fortress, and that he would meet him in Santo Stefano. Carlo reminded him that he would see him there if he was still alive.
Ironically, Ezio climbed down into the palazzo as Barbarigo paced the halls, preparing to leave on a ship. Ezio proceeded to approach Barbarigo from behind and stab him in the back with his hidden blades, mortally wounding him. Barbarigo said that he only wanted stability and order, but Ezio asked him at what cost he would achieve it. Barbarigo died in Ezio's arms, the first Venetian conspirator to be killed.