They were not politicians. They were kingmakers .
Ana, the eldest, had always been fascinated by their family's heritage. She asked questions about their ancestors, about the stories etched into the walls of their old house, and about the traditions that had been passed down through generations. FAMILIA SACANA
The precise origins of the Sacana family are obscure. Records suggest they were not part of the Libro d’Oro (the "Golden Book" of Venetian nobility). They likely emerged from the popolani (commoner class) in the late 14th or early 15th century, possibly originating from the lagoon’s working-class districts— Castello or Cannaregio . The surname itself, in archaic Veneto dialect, carries base connotations; it is etymologically linked to words implying coarseness, treachery, or something broken and cheap. They were not politicians
The family’s most documented (though often legendary) moment came in 1518. A minor noble, Alvise Badoer, accused a Sacana patriarch named of poisoning his well out of spite. The Council of Ten, the Republic’s feared intelligence and judiciary body, took note. While Zuane was acquitted due to "insufficient proof," the trial transcripts describe him as "un verme con la faccia di un cherubino" (a worm with the face of a cherub)—a phrase that would haunt the family. She asked questions about their ancestors, about the
