The Pistol Hidden in the Bible: Francesco Morosini’s Remarkable Legacy

Amidst the treasures of the Correr Museum in Venice lies an extraordinary artifact: a Bible with a secret. This Bible once belonged to Francesco Morosini, the formidable Doge of Venice in the 17th century, and it conceals a hidden pistol. With a tug of a silk bookmark, the gun could be fired while the book remained closed an ingenious combination of faith and weaponry that speaks volumes about the complex personality of its owner.

Morosini, known for his military prowess and strategic genius, left behind a rich collection of personal items, artworks, and historical documents that provide a glimpse into his life. His possessions, now part of the museum’s collection, reflect his varied interests, from classical Greek art to intricate globes, all revealing his intellectual curiosity and taste for the grandeur of ancient civilizations.

Yet, it is the military aspect of Morosini’s legacy that truly stands out. His exploits during the Venetian Ottoman conflicts, especially his successful conquest of the Peloponnese (1683-1688), are immortalized through military documents, models of ships, fortresses, and trophies. Weapons seized from the Ottomans, like the Bible-pistol, embody the spirit of war that defined his reign.

The collection also includes portraits, coins, and medals celebrating his achievements, elevating him to a near mythical status even during his lifetime. Morosini was the last Venetian hero, a figure so revered that his death in battle prompted a series of elaborate posthumous commemorations. Architect Antonio Gaspari was entrusted with creating monumental designs to honor him, although they were never realized. Nevertheless, exhibitions such as the one held in Morosini’s family home, now permanently recreated at the Correr Museum, keep his memory alive.

These tributes were not just about a man; they symbolized Venice’s fading glory. Through Morosini, the Venetian Republic sought to rekindle its former strength as a maritime and military power in the Mediterranean, a dream that, like many others, remained out of reach.

The Correr Museum, which houses these artifacts, is itself a symbol of Venice’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Named after Teodoro Correr, an aristocrat and avid art collector, the museum has become the nucleus of the Musei Civici di Venezia. Correr’s detailed will ensured that his vast collection would be preserved and expanded, with specific instructions for its maintenance and public access, thus laying the groundwork for a legacy of preservation and exhibition.

Morosini’s Bible with a hidden gun is more than just a curiosity; it is a metaphor for the duality of his life a life of faith intertwined with warfare, a personal emblem of Venice’s final attempt at reclaiming its place among the powers of the Mediterranean.