In 1310, Venice was faced with a failed attempt by Bajamonte Tiepolo to overthrow the Doge of Venice. Bajamonte then took refugee in Paul's lands. Paul assembled an army in the vicinity of Zadar in the spring of 1310, and remained stationary until an uprising against the Venetian authorities broke out in Zadar in March 1311. Paul's son, Mladen II, was at the head of the army sent to help the rebels, and the Venetians were forced to flee the city. Mladen II was proclaimed Count of Zadar and Prince of Dalmatia (), as Zadar was considered the capital of Dalmatia. The Doge responded by sending a large fleet to recover the city. Paul informed the Pope about the course of events, asserted that Zadar was "freed from the unlawful Venetian seizure", and referred to Pope's interdict as a pretext for the intervention.
