Nos Avgvstinvs Barbadico ...

An example of a commissione, or the official orders from Agostino Barbarigo, Doge of Venice from 1486 to 1501, presented to Troilo Malipiero on his appointment as Venetian governor of Cyprus in 1499. Malipiero was a Venetian career officer; he had previously served as governor of Pula (=Pola) from 1469 to1471, and of Trau (=Trogir) from about 1477 to 1480. He was governor or ‘Captain’ of Famagusta from 1499 to 1502, and his service there involved dealing in particular with Turkish piracy off the coast. He requested more men and ships, but apparently his requests were denied by the Senate. The commissione concludes on the verso of leaf 12 with the date of the orders and, in another hand, notes concerning financial payments.

Although it was the custom to present a commisione to elected officials, these documents are relatively rare because only two copies were made: one for the state records and the other to be presented to the official concerned. Many commissioni were elaborately decorated and often preserved in elaborate bindings.