Baiamonte Tiepolo was the unlucky leader of one of the few rebellions in Venetian history. The way in which his revolt was foiled is however one of the most often related tales of the city.
On the wall of a building on Mercerie street on the side of the Piazza, there is a stone statue commemorating `the old lady of the mortar.' One day in the year 1310, the woman heard a tumultuous noise in the square below and leaned out of her window to see what was happening. By accident, she knocked a piece of mortar down into the street and onto the head of Baiamonte Tiepolo's flag-bearer. Panic broke out among his soldiers and they broke rank. They were easily overcome by the [G 09 / doge's] supporters. The old lady was given the honor of having saved the day and declared a heroine of the Republic of Venice.
