Andrea, a doge of Venice of a very illustrious family, who in 1380, though then 80 years of age, led the fleet of his country against that of Genoa, and saved the republic, which was then in imminent peril.

Another of the Contarini family, Ambrogio, was ambassador of the state to the Shah of Persia in 1473. He returned to Venice in 1477, and wrote a curious and seemingly faithful account of what he had seen and collected during his residence in Persia. This work was published at Venice in 1524, under the title of "Itinerario nell' anno 1473 al'Usum Cassan Ré di Persia." Many other men eminent in arms and in literature have sprung from the noble family of Contarini.