Background
He was born in Venice into a relatively poor family and in his early years he worked as a tradesman, soon becoming one of the most important ones in the city.
He was born in Venice into a relatively poor family and in his early years he worked as a tradesman, soon becoming one of the most important ones in the city.
In 1494 he was created capitano da mar (sea commander-in-chief), a relatively easy task as he had to lead the Venetian operations along the Adriatic coast in a peaceful period. But when in 1499 a new war between Venice and the Ottoman Empire broke out, his lack of experience led to two crushing defeats (Sapienza, 19 August, and Zonchio, six days later). Grimani risked the death penalty, but this was turned into a mild exile on the island of Cherso.
Soon, however, he fled taking refuge in Rome in 1509.
His political ties soon gained him important administrative charges and created the basis for his future election as doge (6 July 1521). The doge"s son, Domenico Grimani, became a cardinal in 1493.