Leonardo Donato

Successful merchant and later the doge, Leonardo was born into a Venetian merchant family as a son of Giovanni Battista Donato and Giovanna Cornaro. He was educated at the universities of Padua and Bologna in philosophy, history and ancient languages, and upon its completion he became devoted to trade business. Using the family capital a talented and ambitious Donato managed to make a fortune.

After he secured the financial background to his family, Donato became engaged in political and public life of the Venetian Republic. He served as Venetian ambassador to Constantinople and Vatican, podestà of Venice, and as governor and procurator of San Marco. The heyday of his political career represented an election for the 90th Doge, the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice, in 1606.

His reign is chiefly remembered for Venice's dispute with the papacy that wanted to extend its influence within the Republic of Venice, and which resulted with placing a papal interdict on Venice 1606—607.