Venice beheaded Doge Marino Faliero in 1355, seized his palace, painted a black shroud over his portrait, and later voided his widow's will

Marino Faliero came from one of Venice's oldest patrician families. On 11 September 1354, aged about 80, he was elected doge while on a mission to the pope at Avignon. In April 1355 he planned a coup: the leading patricians were to be killed on 15 April and Faliero proclaimed prince. The plot was betrayed. He pleaded guilty and was beheaded at the Doge's Palace on 17 April 1355, and ten ringleaders were hanged. Most of his estate was seized, including the Palazzo Falier. He was allowed a limited will naming his wife, Alucia Gradenigo, as executor, and conditions imposed on it sent much of his wealth to the church and the poor. She gave the government receipts in 1358 and 1362. The Council of Ten cleared her and returned her dowry of 4,000 lire, and in 1356 she won back gold jewellery taken from her. His portrait in the Great Council hall was replaced by a painted black shroud inscribed "Hic est locus Marini Faletro decapitati pro criminibus." He was buried in an unmarked sarcophagus at Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Alucia's last will, of February 1387, left almost everything to two nieces. She died that year. In 1389 the Avogadori di Comun and the Council of Forty agreed with the challengers that she had not been of sound mind and that the notary had been negligent. The Palazzo Falier still stands.