Innocenzo Cotta was one of five prominent citizens of Milan who, during the time of the Italian Renaissance, proclaimed their city-state a republic, after the line of feudal succession to the title of Duke of Milan became muddled.   This Cotta also served alongside 23 other Captains and Defenders of Freedom in governing the (unfortunately short-lived) new geopolitical entity.

They were done in by a mercenary commander who switched his allegiance from the city-state he had been hired to protect (Milan) to the historical enemy that was attacking them (Venice).

Oddly, I had never held a particularly positive view of Venice.  Maybe it was just that I’d heard the water was filthy, and the place was overrun by tourists.  But then again…