1437, Loredan was once again appointed provveditore of the army on 9 April, under the commander-in-chief Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua, but poor health forced him to leave his post and return to Venice, being replaced by Paolo Tron. The war began badly for the Venetians, however, and as soon as Loredan was restored to health in November, he was sent to join the army and raise its faltering morale. He was joined by his son Giacomo Loredan, who thus began his own distinguished military career. By that time, it became clear that Gonzaga was considering defecting from Venice to the Milanese. On 21 June 1438 Loredan was elected as ambassador to the Marquess, in a last-ditch effort to prevent his defection, but Loredan refused. On 13 July, he was appointed commander of the naval forces on the Po River. His appearance alone was sufficient to quell a riot by the troops in the Piazza San Marco. Nevertheless, the campaign went badly: Loredan was unable to exercise his accustomed tactics in a river, his actions were dependent on the course of the land campaign, and the climate once again affected his health. On 23 August 1438, Loredan dictated his last will, and on 21 October, obtained permission to return to Venice, being replaced by Stefano Contarini. He arrived in Venice on October 26, "molto agravato da mal" and died two days later. He was buried in the Monastery of St. Helena (demolished in the Napoleonic period). His tomb's inscription claimed that he was poisoned by unknown enemies("per insidias hostium veneno sublatus"); popular legend ascribed the deed to the Doge Francesco Foscari. Loredan left behind a series of Commentaries, well-regarded by the contemporary historian (and Loredan's subordinate at Brescia) Flavio Biondo, but now lost. Notes References Sources 1372 births 1438 deaths 15th-century Venetian people Pietro Procurators of Saint Mark Republic of Venice admirals Republic of Venice people of the Ottoman–Venetian Wars Republic of Venice politicians