Contarini

thumb|Coat of arms of the House of Contarini|240x240px thumb|188x188px|The Ca' d'Oro, built for the Contarini family in 1428-30 thumb|188x188px|Doge Andrea Contarini returning victorious from the War of Choggia in 1380 (Palazzo Ducale) thumb| A galley of Augustinus Contarini illustrated by [[Conrad Grünenberg after his pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1486 (Badische Landesbibliothek)|188x188px]] thumb|251x251px|The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, built for the Contarini family in the 15th century thumb|188x188px|The Villa Contarini, commissioned by Paolo and Francesco Contarini in 1546

The Contarini is one of the founding families of Venice and one of the oldest families of the Italian Nobility. In total eight Doges of the Republic of Venice emerged from this family, as well as 44 Procurators of San Marco, numerous ambassadors, diplomats and other notables. Among the ruling families of the republic, they held the most seats in the Great Council of Venice from the period before the Serrata del Maggior Consiglio when Councillors were elected annually to the end of the republic in 1797. The Contarini claimed to be of Roman origin through their patrilineal descendance of the Aurelii Cottae, a branch of the Roman family Aurelia, and traditionally trace their lineage back to Gaius Aurelius Cotta, consul of the Roman Republic in 252 BC and 248 BC.