The blind man who became a great conqueror and proved that old age is a second youth (7 photos)

Often people lose their zest for life after retirement and complain about the meaninglessness of existence due to the impossibility of self apply somewhere. Enrico Dandolo - a man who could do a lot Tell them that old age is only the beginning.





Enrico was born around 1107 or 1108 in an influential Venice family. His clan, among the other 12, took part in the election the first Venetian doge - the leader. This position meant practically unlimited possibilities. And the chosen one usually held the post till the end of one's days.



Enrico Dandolo

Venice at that time was a powerful developing trade maritime power. And, in fact, the aristocrats had little choice: either engage in navigation or trade. Since the mentions of there is no activity of Enrico in the first area, then he probably focused on trading. About the life of Dandolo until old age almost nothing is known. That is, he led the life of an ordinary aristocrat, engaged in increasing the wealth of the family and clan. And then the thing began interesting.

In the 80s of the XII century, tension began to grow in relations with Constantinople. The ruler Manuel Komnenos had both personal reasons and was dissatisfied with the growing influence of Venice.

Age is not a hindrance to a career



Manuel Komnenos

After the arrest of almost the entire Venetian diaspora (about 10 thousand people) with confiscation of property (and this was already an open call) sent a delegation to Constantinople. Dandolo also entered the number of ambassadors. At that time he was already about 65 years old. The mission was not successful. The ambassadors did not rescue their citizens. Dandolo lost his sight.

With a high degree of probability, he ordered to blind him the emperor, ordering the ambassador's eyes to be gouged out with a piece of glass. There are also a more prosaic version is that the man lost his sight due to an injury. But the time was such that deliberate blinding was not a special rarity was. So it was possible to savagely take revenge on a person without killing him. AND make it impossible to lead a normal life. And build a career.



Enrico Dandolo

But paradoxically, personal tragedy becomes the starting point of the career of an elderly Venetian. He comes home continues to serve as ambassador. And in 1184 he returns to Constantinople is already the head of a new diplomatic mission. Concludes with new emperor Andronicus I a peace treaty and seeks compensation for damages caused by previous rulers.

And this is a victory. And in 1192, Enrico is chosen (position was precisely elective) Doge. At that time, the blind man was already 85 years old. But energy was available as a 20-year-old, presumably. After all, how else to explain monetary reform, which significantly strengthened the position of the country and made Grosso - a silver coin the main currency of the Mediterranean? And with neighbors the new doge managed to make war, showing that Venice must be respected not only for economic as well as military power.

Turns of fate, or such sweet revenge



Gustave Dore. Enrico Dandolo blesses the knights



The year 1202 is coming. And the Pope announces another - Fourth Crusade. The Venetians are asked for help, and they agree to take the knights to Palestine. They asked for money so many. The knights agreed (and where to go?) Only the warriors have money Hristov turned out to be short, hardly half of the amount. And doge agreed to take what is, in exchange for the promise of part of the military trophies. Along the way, and involved the knights to destroy the Croatian the city of Zadar - the abode of pirates, who are pretty tired of the Venetians.

And then the plan changes. The son of the deposed arrives in Zadar Byzantine emperor and asks the knights for help in returning the throne. He promises to pay generously. It's like fate gives a doge who also takes part in the action, a sign: it is necessary to advance to Constantinople - a city with which he has tragic memories.

The ruling dynasty was returned to the throne. But the emperor's son has no funds to pay off the knights. They stay at the walls, waiting. The ruler is trying to scrape together the required amount by raising taxes. What are the people expectedly reacts with a riot.



Capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders

In the spring of 1204 Dandolo pretells the crusaders to stop sunbathing idle and take Constantinople. Why wait? Exhausted the city practically did not offer resistance, fell and was plundered. doge zealously ensured that the most valuable things were redirected to Venice.

After a significant expansion of the possessions of Venice, the Doge even offered the post of emperor of the new Latin empire - the state crusaders in Greece and Asia Minor. He refused: years, you know whether. And plans. I need to wrestle with the Bulgarians here, the plan follows develop.



Cenotaph Enrico Dandolo in Hagia Sophia

But, apparently, fate decided that enough was enough, and it should interrupt the activities of the indefatigable old man. In the summer of 1205, the Doge leaves life at the age of - just think - 98 years!

In the history of Dandolo, whose character combined amazing perseverance, love for one's country, courage, logic, lack of personal material interest and disregard for age and disease, entered as the oldest ruler in world history. And for the past 800 years, this record remains unbeaten.