Andrea Dandolo

Who was Andrea Dandolo?

Andrea Dandolo, noble of Venice, was the commander of the Venetian fleet that confronted the Genoan fleet in the Battle of Curzola, which ended in disaster for the Venetians. During this battle Marco Polo, in command of one of the ninety-eight Venetian galleys, was captured - it was during this imprisonment that he began to write his Travels. Andrea was also captured by the Genoese; contemporary historians report that "Andrea Dandolo, being unable to bear the disgrace of such defeat, beating his head against the wooden hull of the galley taking him to prison, killed himself", depriving the Genoese of the satisfaction of executing him.