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Revised
version
The ancient name of Genoa comes from the word "knee"
(Genua) or the gate to the sea or "jaw", the mouth to
the sea. It was founded around 2,000 B.C. by the Phoenicians who
sailed in from Tyre in Phoenicia. They came through from their
settlement in Corsica and settled in Genoa with the Pagu or Tribe
of Ambrones, one of the earliest ancestors of the Celts from Iberia.
There is archaeological evidence in Chiavari of chariot-grave
-- the "inverted bell cup" culture -- that proves this
lineage. They had dominion over the Province of Padany and the
area between the Eridanu River (now Po River) and Etrury. The
Romans called them Ligures from the Latin verb "to settle
behind."
The community of Phoenicians and Ambrones inhabitants of Genoa
became pirates of the Mediterranean and were called Thyrrenoi
by the Greeks. Further, they were employed as mercenaries. This
is mentioned in the legend of Hercules when he returned from the
mythical pillars (Gibraltar or the Pillars of Hercules) and was
stopped by two sons of the Sea God, Poseidon, Albiones and Ligures.
Protected and closed in by the Alps to the north, the settlers
found the only and natural way out through the Ligurian Sea; hence,
it became of vital importance to them.
The Pheonicio-Celtic settlers, or the Ligures, worshipped the
god Belanu. The name comes from Bel in Celtic which means light
[or from Ba'al or God in Phoenician]. There is also a suggestion
that the name comes from the name of a mythical king of Tyre called
Belu. Further, this god is said to have protected them from the
Gryphon, a mythological beast and an archaic Mesopotamian symbol.
They cremated their dead heroes and used human sacrifice in their
worship every year in the month of May. They used animal names
to call each other such as "Arthu" (bear), Bennu (crow),
Moccu (wild bore) or Hirpu (wolf).
The Ligures were divided in three social classes, the Druids or
Priests, the Military equipped with chariots, bows, spears, shields
and mystical necklaces, and the Working class. A king ruled them
all.
The main produce of the Ligures was the cultivation and production
of olives and olive oil. It was thence exported all over the Mediterranean
and the then known world.
There are reports of their megalithic monuments that date back
to 1,500 BC and illegible inscription, now preserved at the Bocconi
private collection. The first report of their readable phrases
goes back to 800 B.C. with vertical Indo-European wedge characters
preserved at the Archaeological Museum of Genoa. Of the legible
text the word "Mezunemusu" or central sanctuary is identified.
The word comes from Nemusu or sacred wood, the sanctuary of the
Celtic tribes.
In the 8th century B.C., Pheonicio-Celts of Genoa co-founded Massalia
or Marseilles with more Phoenicians. In 620 B.C. they became partners
in world trade of the Classical age through Marseilles where new
Phoenician merchants ships and immigrants occupied Marseilles
as a trading post in the area.
Around 500 B.C., they colonized the city of Lunis and the island
of Elba, as a trading post for the Etruscans.
In 390 B.C., aided by other Celtic tribes they defeated the Romans
in the city of Clusium lead by Brennu (catu Clusiu or battle of
Clusium) and in 387 B.C. they raided Rome.
In 264 B.C. they formed an alliance with Carthage and later on
had a treaty with Rome entitled "Foedus Aequum".
In the first Punic War, Carthage took 8,000 Pheonicio-Celts from
Genoa as mercenaries while Rome captured 60 of their ships.
In 225 B.C., they had their first conflict with the Romans at
the battle of Talamona.
In the summer of 218 B.C., they sided with Carthaginian Hannibal
against the Romans and provided 4,000 men to his army.
Plutarch reported that in 102 B.C. Genoa fell to the Romans at
the battle of Aquae Sextiae and it was called thereafter, the
Province of Gallia Cisalpinis (inside-Alphs Gaul).
In 53 B.C. the Genoese tried to rebel against Rome but they were
defeated in 51 B.C.
Emperor Octavian Augustus made Genoa his hometown around 18 B.C.
In 6 A.D., Genoa became the capital of the 9th king of Rome.
Thereafter, the 350 years of Roman domination Genoa suffered from
oppression, linguistic substitution and slavery especially under
Julius Caesar in 15 B.C.
Around 300 A.D., Genoa became a Christian city. There is archaeological
evidence that proves this when Jacopo de Voragine identified the
relics of St. Syrus. St. Syrus (324 A.D. - 381 A.D.) was the one
of the earliest bishops of Genoa. It needs to be mentioned that
in 58 A.D., saints Nazrius and Celsus had failed to convert the
population to Christianity.
END
of REVISED SECTION
Note:
The author of this site reproduced the not copyrighted History
of Genoa without permission from the writer. Further, the Revised
Version was also produced without the writer's persmission and
is presented to help the reader.
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Original
version
Anciently
named Genua ="knee" as the sea shores shape or ="door" gate to
the sea or ="jaw" mouth to the sea , was founded probably around
2'000 b.c. by "Sea People", the Fenix ( Or called "Phoenicians"one
of the first civilization of mankind-history.) who sailed into
the most comfortable bay of that site, from Tyrus (now in Lebanon)
thru' Corsic and settle themselves upon a substrate of the Celtic
"Pagu"(=Tribe) of Ambrones, the most ancient Celtic stock with
Iberis, (Occidental-Hallstattian Kelti) of the "upset-bell cup"
culture as prove the reports found in a chariot-grave in Chiavari,
whose dominion was from Provence to Padany and from the river
"Eridanu"(now "Po" river) to Etrury, they were called later by
latins the "Ligures" (from latin verb "to be settled behind").
Fenix
and Ambrones mixed together and they begun to course the mediterranean
sea as pirates and so known as Thyrrenoi ("pirates") by Greek
people, as they also used to be mercenaries. This fact is emphatized
in greek legends on Hercules, who, when was back from the mythical
"Columns", was stopped in Ligury by two sons of Poseidon (the
Sea God) called Albiones and Ligures....
Protected
and closed by Marine Alps to the north, the natural way out, the
Ligurian sea, became more and more important for Ligures.
Ligures
had the cult of god "Belanu" (from celtic "Bel"="light" or from
"Belu" mythic king of Tyrus), were protected by the mythological
beast "Gryphon"(the griffin), a very archaic Mesopotamic symbol
brought by Fenix people; dedicated to cremation of dead heroes,they
used human sacrifices every year in the month of may. They used
animals names to call themselves, like "Arthu" =the bear, "Brennu"=the
crow, "Moccu"=the wild boar or "Hirpu"=the wolf.
Led
by a "Rix" (=King), Ligures were divided up in three castes: the
"Druvid"(Priests), the Militia equipped with "carru"(=chariots)
"bug"(=bow) spear shield and "torque"(a mystical necklace), and
the Productive caste.
The
main products of cultivation were Olives (scientifical name "Olea
Ligustica") and Olive Oil, which were born first in Ligury and
then exported with Genoeses sailors in all the mediterranean area
and then in the whole world.
From
around 1'500 b.c. are reports of menhirs with human head and illegible
scriptures, conserved in the Bocconi private collection.The first
report of readable phrases goes back up to 800 b.c. with a vertical
hindoeuropean wedge-shaped character set scripture report conserved
in the civic museum of archaelogy in Genoa, in which is the word
"Mezunemusu" ="Central Sanctuary" ("nemusu"="sacred wood" as was
called a sanctuary by Celtic tribes).
Around
VIII century b.c. Ligures founded the city of Massalia" (=Marseille).
Then in 620b.c.Ligures got contact with the Classic World trading
in that city of Massalia, where Phocaean galleys landed to put
a trading post of the Ellenic Empire.
Around
500 b.c., Ligures colonized the city of Lunis and the isle of
Elba as a point of trading with the Etruscan culture.
In
the year 390 b.c. Ligures and other Celtic tribes led by 'Brennu'
defeat Romans in the city of Clusium ("catu Clusiu"=battle of
Clusium), and in 387 b.c. they raid and destroy Rome.
In
264 b.c. Ligures form an alliance with Carthago (another city
founded by Fenix) and with Rome (the treaty called "Foedus Aequum").
In
the first Punic War, Carthago took 8.000 Genoeses mercenaries
and in the same time Rome recruited 60 Genoeses ships.
In
225 b.c. Ligures and Romans begun their direct conflict with the
battle of "Talamona".
In
the summer of 218 b.c. Ligures took part in the Punic War supporting
the Carthaginese "Annibales" with 4.000 men.
In
102 b.c. Genoa falled in the hands of Romans as province called
"Gallia Cisalpinis"(="inside-Alps Gauls"), after the battle of
Aquae Sextiae as reported by Plutarcus in "Marius'Life", led by
a Roman "praefectus juri dicundo".
In
53 b.c. Genoeses tried to rebel against Rome but Latins defeat
them in 51 b.c..
The
Roman Imperator Octavianus Augustus took Genoa as his hometown
for some years (around 18 b.c.).
In
6 a.d., Genoa became the capital of the "IX regio" of Rome.
During
this period of 350 years of dominaton, revenges and slavery (expecially
under Julius Caesar and in 15 b.c. with the constitution of the
Roman Empire), Ligures suffered a linguistic substitution.
Around
300 a.d. Genoa became christian as proven when Jacopo de Voragine
identified the relics of St. Syrus, one of the earliest bishops
of Genoa (b.324-d.381). Before (58 a.d.) the saints Nazarius and
Celsus came to Genoa but they don't succeeded in the conversion.
In
401 a.d. with the gradual fall of Romans and the raids of Gothic
people, Genoa became independent inbetween this period of anarchy
and, in these years, they begun the navigation beyond the Hercules'columns
or "Gebel Tariq" (=" Tariq Mountain", now called "Gibilterra"
or "Gibraltar"), another city founded by Fenix, formerly named
"Calpe".
Genoa
suffered raids from Alaricus (402), Rodagisus (406), Attila (452)
and Visigoth People (458).
In
493 Genoa became part of the Ostrogoth kingdom but continued to
course the seas boarding and raiding against the Vandals pirates.
In
538 Byzantium gave 1.000 soldiers from Tracia to Genoa.
In
569 with the Longobard invasion of the king Alboinus, Genoa became
independent and became the lonley stronghold of north italy, even
if King Rotarius raid the city a couple of times....
Genoa
was led by a "vir magnificus"(= great man) with an "exercitus"(=army)
composed by 400 men from each district.
At
this point gradually,with the help of the Count-Bishop of Genoa,
the city exclude itself from the feudal empire system of Carolus
Magnus and found formally its own domain, with a kingdom from
Nice (now in France) to Luni (now in Tuscany).
First
Genoa was controlled by two groups of Consules (=leaders), a Parliament
and five delegates for various tasks, then the Republic of Genoa
was controlled by the "Duxe" (from Latin "dux" = chief) later
called "Doge", who was elected by the ancient families beetween
90 candidates and a second ballot between 5 winners (from this
the birth of lottery game).
The
Saracen fatimit califf Abû al Qâsim Muhammad in 935
made a raid, with 200 ships, in Genoa raping 1.000 women but after,
between 1060 and 1080, Genoa made a treaty with the Saracen people
Hammadids and Zirytes, and in Genoa was founded the first embark
station to the Holyland.
In
this period to trick the laws of Popes against the loans, they
made up the first bank ("Bancô de San Giorgio"=Saint-Georges
Bank) as proves the first evidence in the world of financial services
and bills of exchange, wich was a contract issued in Genoa in
1156 to enable two brothers who had borrowed 115 Genoese pounds
to reimburse the bank's agents in Constantinople by paying them
460 Bizants one month after their arrival; Genoeses also invented
the first insurance system, to improve trading and commerce, the
Genoese true religion they had zealously followed for many a long
year: the religion of gold and trade. Legend and local jokes have
it that the priests sermons fell on granite ears and interest
was only sparked when they gave an assurance that God didn't guarantee
1% but a 100 to 1 win. One unsavory reminder of the importance
attached to "brass" is Genoa's equivalent of Newgate, the Malapaga
debtors' prison. Though this hell-hole was closed down in 1850,
its memory still lingers in the name on the wharf near 'ciassa
Cavour'..
Along
the marine routes, Genoeses sailors collect and develop many innovations
in navigation, as the Compass (before used as a game), the Sextant
(before a rude pendulum), newer Sails and Rudders (almost the
same used today), the knowledge of Night-navigation (from Arabic
astronomy), modern Carthography (from Arabic mathematics) and
the knowledge of the earth's spheric-shape. The oldest sea charts
in existence, linked to the emergence of the compass, are of Genoese
origin. the earliest examples date from the late thirteenth century.
They generally show the Mediterranean basin (" Mare nostrum "
) drafted with astonishing cartographic precision, considering
the technical means available to the mapmakers of that time. A
well known Genoese chart is one of 1544 by Battista Agnese.
The
Genoeses ships:"Garabo","Galera","Gatto","Goletta","Salandra","Buco","Uscere"
and "Cursore", and their crew were the fastest, more powerfull
and easy-to-handle ships, so far that the city changed name into
"A Superba" ("The Superb").
The
Genoese expanding method often was not of conquering but of founding
commercial colonies into a foreign city building a private harbour
with customs duty, a "darsena"(from arabic "daar seenah" the place
where to build ships), a Genoese district with shops and houses,
churches, and then slowly taking financially and politically possession
of the whole town. That's why with this financial method the dominion
of Genoa lasted longer than a one taken by force with struggles.
Around
1000 a.d. Genoa took almost every Aegean island and city: from
Rodhis to Smirnes and Samos.
Despite
pressure from Arab and pirate raids, the Byzantine state succeeded
in keeping open the Aegean sea lanes until the 11th century; however,
this control was gradually eroded by the constant granting of
concessions to Genoa, the ultimate naval power, concessions which
allowed Genoeses to open commercial stations on the empires littoral
cities. The Fourth Crusade and the destruction of Constantinople
by the Latins in 1204 resulted in a new distribution of power
in the Aegean. The great islands like Chios, Mytilene and others,
passed into the control of the Genoeses. "Costantinopolis" was
taken by Genoa, in wich was erected a tower called "Galata", on
the hill of "golden-horn" of Istambul, to control the city.
In
1087 colonized in north Africa the cities of Tunis, Jerbah, Mahedia
and Tripolis.
In
1098 Ligures organized the expedition to 1st Crusade and then
took part in the "Antyokias capture", acquiring many privileges.
In those years the most powerful Genoese family was "Embriaci",
whose members played notable roles in the Crusades in the Holy
Land in the 11th and 12th centuries. Guglielmo Embriaco and his
brother Primo de Castello sailed for the Holy Land in 1099 and
participated in the "capture of Jerusalem" and the defeat of an
Egyptian army at Ramla. Guglielmo returned to Genoa to raise fresh
troops and then participated in the "capture of Arsuf", south
of Jaffa (1101). The Holy Grail, thought to be carved from a single
great emerald (much later found to be glass), was captured at
Caesarea and sent to the cathedral of San Lorenzo in Genoa. Returning
to Genoa, Guglielmo served a term as consul of the republic.From
this period was "Caffaro de Caschifellone" (b. c. 1080--d. 1166),
a Genoese soldier, statesman, diplomat, and crusader who wrote
chronicles that are important sources for the history of the First
Crusade and of 12th-century Genoa. At the siege of Acri, Richard
I, fighting side by side with the brave Genoese, placed England
under the patronage of the Genoese Patron Saint, George of Cappadocia.
He also took from the Genoese banner its Red Cross and placed
it at the centre of the national flag of Old England.
In
1015 Genoeses conquered Corsica where they made: The foundation
of many towns like Bonifacio, Calvi, Bastia or Ajaccio has been
accompanied with the building of citadels bristling with ramparts
which protected the trading activity of these cities. On the initiative
of the financiers of the Saint-Georges Bank and in front of the
danger of the Barbary Coasts attacks, a system of several hundred
towers situated on headlands on the coast side, was built during
the 15th and 16th centuries. 'The Genoese', narrow Bridges, spanning
with only a simple arch the smallest rivers that they generously
overhang with their narrow silhouette, still offer their crossing
on many roads or ways like the Bridge of Ota, near Porto. Is to
be remembered Sambucuccio d'Alando (d. c. 1370), a corsican revolutionary,
who in collaboration with Genoa, led an uprising against the feudal
Cinarca family and their overlord, James (IV) of Aragon.
Around
1016/1017 Genoa took almost every coast-village in Sardinia. The
city "Alghero" was founded in 1102 by the Doria family and became
a Catalan colony under Peter IV of Aragon in 1354. The kingdom
or "giudicato" of Cagliari was politically Genoese. It was brought
to an end in 1258 when its capital, S. Igia, was stormed and destroyed
by an alliance of Sardinian-Pisan forces. The territory then became
a colony of Pisa 'til the war of Meloria. The kingdom or "giudicato"
of Torres, too, was Genoese and came to an end in 1259, on the
death of the "giudicessa" Adelasia. The territory was divided
up between the Doria family of Genoa and the Bas-Serra family
of Arborea, while the city of Sassari became an autonomous city-republic.
In
1184 Genoa conquered Balearian Island.
In
1190 organized the expedition to 3rd Crusade.
The
date of 10th June 1215 marks the birth of the future Monaco Principality
: on that day, the Genoese Ghibellines led by Fulco del Cassello,
who had long since seen the strategic importance of the Rock and
was aware of the advantages of the harbor, came there to lay the
first stone of the Genoese fortress, on whose foundations the
Prince's Palace lies today. Among the families of the Genoese
aristocracy belonging to the Guelph party, one of the most brilliant
was the Grimaldi family ; its most anciently known ancestor was
a certain Otto Canella, 'Doge' of Genoa in 1133, whose son was
called Grimaldo. It was a branch of this House of Grimaldi which
was, after 3 centuries of struggle, to gain permanent possession
of the sovereignty of Monaco. In 1296, as a result of party quarrels,
the Guelphs and with them the Grimaldis were expelled from Genoa
and took refuge in Provence. They had a small army which they
used against the fortress of Monaco. On 8th January 1297, the
Guelphs led by Francô Grimaldi, known as "Malizia" ("the
Cunning"), seized the fortress. According to one chronicler, Francô
Grimaldi penetrated the walls in the guise of a Franciscan monk.
This was the first capture of Monaco by the Grimaldis ; the event
is commemorated on their coat of arms where the supporters are
two monks armed with swords.
In
1261 the republic conquered, colonized and founded many cities
over the Black sea shores: for example the turkish Amastris and
Amisos, the crimean Balaklava and Caffa (Now Feodsiya, the town
fell to Russia in 1783), all the lands in the Azov sea, and many
other minor sites. The Genoese pirates in Crimea put their vanguard
in Tmutorokan' (now Kerch).
In
1284 Genoeses fleet destroy Pisa (another sailor's empire) in
the battle of Meloria, a rocky islet in the Ligurian Sea, off
the coast of Tuscany, north central Italy, opposite Livorno. Meloria
is known as the site of two 13th-century naval battles, both features
of the long-standing rivalry between Pisa and Genoa. In the first
battle (1241) the fleets of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II
and of Pisa attacked a Genoese squadron and captured the English,
French, and Spanish prelates on their way to the Lateran Council
summoned by Pope Gregory IX. In the second battle in August 1284
two Genoese squadrons, commanded by "Oberto Doria" and "Benedetto
Zaccaria", crushingly defeated a numerically superior Pisan fleet
under "Albertino Morosini", "Ugolino della Gherardesca", and "Andreotto
Saraceno". After this Pisa never recovered its naval power.
Between
1253 and 1299 was the war against Venice.Genoa sweep his worst
enemy on the seas, Venice; on 1264 (battle of Saseno) off Saseno,
by Valona (Albania, northeast of heel, near Serbia) the Genoese
under Simone Grillo captures a heavily laden Venetian Levantine
fleet; on 1266 (battle of Trapani) Gilberto Dandolo, with 25 galleys,
encounters a Genoese fleet under Borborino off the Northwest coast
of Sicily, Borborino declines battle and they link their galleys
together in defense, after three attempts, the Venetians break
through and destroy most of Borborino's fleet; on 1294 (battle
of Kilikian) the Genoese defeat the Venetians off the coast of
Kilikian, the Venetians losing 25 of 68 ships (Northeast of the
"spur"); on 1297 (battle of Curzola) Genoese challenge the Venetians
off the coast of Dalmatia, at the island of Curzola (Korcula),was
a decisive victory, 78 Genoeses ships versus 98 Venetians ships
under Andrea Dandolo; then on 1299 entering and raiding the city,
report is the "lion of Venice" conserved in San Matteo Church
in Genoa. The Venetian losses were scarcely to be believed: 18
sunk galleys, 66 captured galleys, which Lamba Doria burned on
the Korcula beaches because he could not tow them as far as Genoa;
7,000 soldiers, sailors and rowers killed, and 7,400 captured.
During
these raids on 1298 was catched the Venetian "Marco Polo" who
wrote in Genoeses jails, with "Rustichello da Pisa", his fabulous
book "The Million" about his fantastic trek to China, which probably
had never seen.
At this time Genoa while organized the crusades by one side, formed
an alliance with the Ottoman Empire, takin all the advantages
from both sides: a Genoese named "Çigä" was elected
"Pasha of Sidun". The Genoese established a colony in Ceuta and
in 1234 we find the Genoese joining the Arabs in the defence of
Ceuta against a Spanish attack. The friendly contact with Ottoman
Empire is reported in the correspondance, preserved in the State
Archives of Genoa, of Battista Ferrari, 'agent' of the republic
in Constantinople from 1562 to 1567, includes for the year 1564
alone detailed reports on Ottoman diplomatic activity and naval
preparations from 'Mocat Aga', "Mostaffa Rais', and 'Ferrato Beij',
all three converted and renamed Genoese in the sultan's service.
Some of these returned to Genoa after a period in Ottoman pay....
In
the 14th century Genoeses built many fortress onto the turkish
shores, like the one that dominates the small port of Cesme restored
and enlarged by the Ottomans in the 16th century,or the one at
Sigacik, where a picturesque marina rests beneath fortifications.
In
this period has to be remembered the "Boccanegra" family, wealthy
Genoese family that played an important role in two great "popular"(democratic)
revolutions, one in 1257 and the other in 1339, and furnished
several admirals to the Genoese republic and to Spain. Also the
"Spinola" family was one of the noblest families that dominated
the history of Genoa during the city-state's great period, from
the 12th to the 14th century.
In
1288 'Blessed Jacopo de Voragine' ( Archbishop of Genoa and medieval
hagiologist) was commissioned by Pope Nicholas IV to free the
Genoese from the ban of the Church, which they had incurred for
assisting the Sicilians in their revolt against the King of Naples.
When Genoese Archbishop Charles Bernard of Genoa died, in 1286,
the metropolitan chapter of Genoa proposed Jacopo de Voragine
as his successor. Upon his refusal to accept the dignity, Obizzo
Fieschi, the Patriarch of Antyokias whom the Saracens had driven
from the see, was transferred to the archiepiscopal See of Genoa
by Nicholas IV in 1288. But when Obizzo Fieschi died, in 1292,
the chapter of Genoa unanimously elected Jacopo de Voragine as
his successor. His again endeavoured to evade the archiepiscopal
dignity, but was finally obliged to yield to the combined prayers
of the clergy, the Senate, and the people of Genoa. Has to be
remembered too the "Fieschi" family, a noble Genoese family of
those times, whose members played an important role in Guelf (papal
party) politics in medieval Italy. The Fieschi allied with the
Angevin kings of Sicily and later with the kings of France; the
family produced two popes, 72 cardinals, and many generals, admirals,
and ambassadors, like Pope Innocent IV, original name Sinibaldo
Fieschi (b. end of 12th century, Genoa--d. Dec. 7, 1254, Naples),
one of the greatest pontiffs of the Middle Ages (reigned 1243-54),
whose clash with Holy Roman emperor Frederick II formed an important
chapter in the conflict between papacy and empire. His belief
in universal responsibility of the papacy led him to attempt the
evangelization of the East and the unification of the Christian
churches
In
XIII and XIV century Genoeses begun the exploration of "o Mâ
Oçeanu" ("the Sea Ocean") pointing their vanguard in "Lisbunn-a"
("Lisboa") and on the "Insuë de Açorre" ("Islands
of Açores") and "Madeira", as reports the fact that Columbus'
father-in-law, Bartholomeu Perestrello, was the governor of Porto
Santo, in the Madeira Islands. So Genoeses discovered marine routes
to trade in the whole known world, from "Etiopia"(so was called
Africa) to "Cataï"("China") and from Cipangû("Japan")
to "Mâ Nostru"("Our Sea"= Mediterranean sea).
In
October of 1347 Genoese trading ships put into the harbor of Messina
in Sicily with dead and dying men at the oars. The ships had come
from the Black Sea port of Caffa (now Feodsiya) in the Crimea,
where the Genoese maintained many trading posts. The diseased
sailors showed a strange black swelling about the size of an egg
or an apple in the armpits and groin. The ships then put in their
home harbour in Genoa and the plague begun there in the first
days of January 1348. The Black Death had begun and would not
leave Europe for 400 years. Half of Europe die over the next 50
years. January 1348, the plague was in Marseilles. It reached
Paris in the spring 1348 and England in September 1348. Moving
along the Rhine trade routes, the plague reached Germany in 1348,
and the Low Countries the same year. 1348 was the worst of the
plague years. It took longer to reach the periphery of Europe.
Norway was hit in May 1349. The eastern European countries were
not reached until 1350, and Russia not until 1351. The plague
will continue through cycles over the next 350 years.
In
these years the war against Venice restarted: in 1352 Genoa defeat
an alliance squadron from Venice, Aragon, and Byzantium, and in
1354, with the battle of Modon Genoese crushed Venetians in the
Ionian Sea, Genoese under Paganino Doria, Venetians under Nicolo
Pisani. 1379, Pulj: Genoese defeat Venetians in the Istrian Peninsula,
now Croatia.Genoese fleet of 22 galleys under Luciano Doria sail
up the Adriatic.Venetians under Vittorio Pisani sailed out of
port, captured the Genoese flagship, killing Luciano Doria. Genoese
fight back, sinking 15 of 20 Venetian galleys.Pisani retreats
back to harbor. Then in 1379 (December 23) the final battle: Pietro
Doria captures the Venetian port of Chioggia, then attacks the
core of Venice (under the "Doge" Andrea Contarini) raiding the
city but then Venetian Vittorio Pisani blockades Genoese inside
the Venetian Channels. Genoeses lose most of their ships breaking
out. So in 1381 they signed a peace treaty.
In
1372 King Pierre II was crowned King of Jerusalem according to
custom in the cathedral of St. Nicholas. As the procession was
returning from the cathedral, a dispute arose between the representatives
of the republics of Genoa and Venice on a question of precedence.
At the banquet after the ceremony the dispute broke out again
and resulted in a fight in which several of the Genoese were killed.
Genoa was not slow in taking her revenge. The Genoese fleet under
Admiral Pietro de Campo Fregoso landed troops in Cyprus. Nicosia
and Famagusta were taken, the boy king was made a prisoner, a
crushing indemnity was imposed on the island and Famagusta was
retained as security for payment.
During
the middle ages the Canaries become more myth than reality. They
figure for example in the search by St Brendan (a.d. c.484 - 578)
for paradise, which he assumed to be an island in the Sea Ocean.
Around the end of the 13th century, the Canaries were rediscovered
by a Genoese fleet under Lancelot Malocello. A detailed survey
was made by Nicoloso de Reccô of Genoa in 1341.
Genoeses
lost Costantinople in March 1453, when the armed forces of Mohammed
II, numbering 160,000, completely surrounded Constantinople, the
city had only 5000 soldiers and 2000 Western knights, commanded
by Giustiniani of Genoa. Notwithstanding this serious disadvantage,
the city held out against the enemy for two months, but on the
night of 28 May, 1453, Mohammed II ordered a general assault,
and after a desperate conflict, in which Emperor Constantine XII
perished, the Turks entered the city from all sides and perpetrated
a frightful slaughter. Mohammed II rode over heaps of corpses
to the church of St. Sophia, entered it on horseback, and turned
it into a mosque.
Friday
12 October 1492 a.d. the Genoese "Christopher Columbus"(Cristofôru
Côlumbô or Cristobal Colon), discovered central America
and his son after 1500 discovered the most of the remaining routes
to Atlantic America. Cristofôru (b.1451-d.1506) lived his
youth on the other side of the mid-12th century gate of "Porta
Soprana" in the ivy-covered house in Genoa and went to sea at
the age of 14, as a pirate, later visiting the Greek Island of
Chios. In 1476, while fighting in a battle of Genoa with the Portuguese
off Cape St Vincent (Sagres, Lagos), the ship he was aboard caught
fire, and he swam to the shore of Portugal with the help of a
wooden oar. Then he moved on to Lisbon which had at the time a
considerable community of Genoese.Lisbon was then a busy commercial
centre, at the westernmost edge of the known world, and congregated
there were seafarers, astronomers, geographers, and scientists,
all keenly debating the possibility of the existence and discovery
of a "new world', or of reaching the East by sailing west. His
ambition was much aided by the wife he took in 1478. She was Felipa
Perestrello, and her father was a sea captain. Then he began to
seek a patron for his intended expedition. His voyage was patronized
by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Castile in April 1492
getting Genoeses financial backing for part of the expenses from
the Bank of St.George. On Friday 3 August, he set sail from the
Spanish port of Palos in command of the Santa María - a
decked ship 36 mt. long, with 50 men, and attended by two little
caravels, the Pinta and the Niña , captained by Martin
Alonso Pinzón and his brothers. The whole squadron comprised
only 120 adventurers. He first reached the Canary Is.; and though
he found it hard to keep up the courage of his crews, San Salvador
in the Bahamas was sighted on Friday 12 Oct, then visited Cuba
and Hispaniola (Haiti), leaving 38 men there and he set sail on
4 January 1493 back to Spain. Columbus' second voyage was altogether
a more ambitious one, with a fleet of three carracks and 17 small
caravels sailing from Cadiz (25 Sep 1493). After calling at the
Canary Is. for supplies, they sighted Dominica in the West Indies
(3 Nov 1493), going on to Guadalupe and Puerto Rico. En route,
they found that the colony left on Hispaniola had been massacred.
On his third voyage (1498-1500) he discovered the South American
mainland, but was sent home in irons by a newly appointed royal
governor after a revolt against his command. His last great voyage
(1502-4) along the southern shores of Mexico was accomplished
against royal orders, and in great hardship. Undoubtedly the greatest
mariner of all time, died forgotten, sick in body and mind, at
Valladolid, in Spain.
In
1497 the Genoese "Giovanni Caboto" discovered North America Mainland.
John Cabot was born in Genoa in 1450 and moved to England in 1484.
Like Columbus and Magellan, Cabot thought there was a better route
to the riches of the Orient by heading west instead of east. After
being turned down by the monarchs of Spain and Portugal, Cabot
was granted a charter to explore by Henry VII of England. He was
given one small ship less than 70 feet long called the Matthew
and a crew of 18 men. The expedition set sail from Bristol, England,
on [May 2, 1497]. His heading was farther north than the Columbus
routes and well out of the way of Spanish-held territories. Five
weeks later on June 24, his crew sighted land somewhere in Newfoundland.
Even though the distance was shorter than Columbus', it took longer
because the winds were not as favorable up in the north. It was
the first documented landing in Newfoundland since the Viking
voyages centuries before. Cabot was convinced he'd found an island
off the coast of Asia and he named the island "new found land."
He returned to England on August 6, 1497. Although he brought
no spices or treasure back with him, he was able to map out the
first details of the North American coast. King Henry approved
a second voyage and financed one ship. Four other ships were financed
by merchants hoping to cash in on the new route to the Orient.
In May 1498, the five ships set sail. One returned for repairs
and the other four, with John Cabot as captain, disappeared and
never returned. John Cabot's son, Sebastian, was an accomplished
mapmaker and navigator. In 1508 with King Henry VII's support,
he set sail to discover western lands. He took a northern route
looking for a strait to take him to the Orient. When his crew
threatened mutiny, Sebastian headed back to England. He was certain
he'd found a northwest passage to the East. On the way back he
explored the coast of North America. He arrived in England in
1509 only to find King Henry VII had died and Henry VIII was in
power. The new king was not as supportive of Cabot's exploration
as his predecessor. So young Sebastian moved to Spain and secured
the Spanish ruler's support to find an easier and safer strait
than Magellan's. In 1526, he set sail with four ships. He spent
four years sailing off the east coast of South America. He did
not find a better passage around the continent and returned to
Spain in 1530 in disgrace. Then he eventually returned to Genoa
and lived as a mapmaker until his death in 1557.
In
XVI century was built the tall lighthouse called 'Lanterna' on
the site of a pre-existing lighthouse tower.
In
the same century Genoeses developed the 'Bizilla' (=lace), the
art of lace-making, probably introduced from the East. Modern
Maltese lace (probably the best) is descended directly from Genoese
lace. To quote Maltese producer(1907) : "This heavier Genoese
lace was made from 1625 onwards. Its lineal descendant is modern
Maltese, which was introduced into the island by laceworkers broght
from Genoa in 1833.. . "
From
the end of the 15th century onwards Genoese merchants came down
to reside in Antwerp after the decline of Bruges (which Genoese
colonized before) and formed a Nation. In 1532, the Emperor Charles
V recognized the Genoese Nation in Antwerp. It became one of the
most powerful trade communities. Most members were rich bankers,
specializing in maritime insurance and loans, and were known for
their influential role in the financial world. Together with the
Augsburg Fugger family they were the most important moneylenders
to the Spanish Crown in the 16th century, and were sometimes hailed
as the saviours of the Spanish government. Their money was needed
in the first place for the maintenance of the Spanish troops in
the Netherlands. The Genoese financial contributions for the maintenance
of the Spanish troops in Antwerp, made by the Nations residing
in Antwerp, to the City Council, as recorded on 29 April 1574,
was "XXXm ll Arthois" (=30.000 pounds Artois). Most of the Genoese
traders belonged to the nobility and displayed a genuine interest
in the arts and sciences. Their generous patronage undoubtedly
influenced the local trade élite who were eager to adopt
a touch of aristocratic prestige. The highly influential role
played by the Genoese patrons on the career of young composers
is a relatively unknown feature in current art and music histories.
One of the most favoured artists of the Genoese Nation, was the
poet Jan van der Noot Esq. Stefano Gentile and Giovanni Grimaldi,
two rich Genoese bankers, revealed themselves as particularly
generous patrons and considered their support of artists an effective
way of displaying their wealth and prestige. In 1565 the humanist
and poet Guillaume De Poetou wrote his debut, a collection of
odes entitled La grande liesse en plus grand labeur and addressed
to both Gentile and Grimaldi as a New Year present.
In
1565 was built the 'Palazzô Giancu'(=Withe House), remodeled
in the 18th century and renovated to reflect modern museum planning
after World War II damage. It was donated to the city, together
with her art collection, by the Duchess of Galliera, and among
the magnificent paintings to be seen are works by Van Der Goes,
Van Dyck, Rubens, Zurbaran, Strozzi, Magnasco and David's "Virgin
of the Pappa", as well as other masters from mediaeval times onwards.
There are also exhibitions of Flemish tapestries, Genoese furniture
and Chinese porcelain.
In
1721 the first count of civilians able to bear arms in Gibraltar
was taken and this revealed that 45 were English, 96 were Spaniards
and above 169 were Genoeses. This Genoese element supplied a vital
contribution towards what was to make a Gibraltarian. By 1753
the civilian population had grown and the main elements were 597
Genoeses. Dr Howes ("study of the origins and development of the
population of Gibraltar from 1704", first published in 1951) concluded
from his researches that 'the basic element in what has become
the Gibraltarian is the Genoeses'
After
that time, Genoeses sailors continued to trade and to discover
marin routes in the remainder of the world.
In
Genoa, 27 October 1782 was born Niccolò Paganini (died
Niça, 27 May 1840). By his technique and his extreme personal
magnetism he was not only undoubtedly the greatest violin virtuoso
of all time but drew attention to the significance of virtuosity
as an element in art. He studied with his father, Antonio Cervetto
and Giacomo Costa and composition with Ghiretti and Paer. From
1810 to 1828 he developed a career as a 'free artist' throughout
Europe, mesmerizing audiences and critics with his showmanship;
notable compositions were the bravura variations Le streghe (1813),
the imaginative 24 Caprices op.1 and the second and third violin
concertos, surpassing in brilliance any that had been written
before. After conquering Vienna in 1828 he was equally successful
in Germany (Goethe, Heine and Schumann admired him), Paris and
London (1831-4). His hectic intemational career finally shattered
his health in 1834, when he retumed to Genoa. Apart from his unparalleled
technical wizardry on the instrument, including the use of left-hand
pizzicato, double-stop harmonics, 'ricochet' bowings and a generally
daredevil approach to performance - all of which influenced successive
violinists (Ernst, Bériot, Vieuxtemps) - he is most important
for his artistic impact on Liszt, Chopin, Schumann and Berlioz,
who took up his technical challenge in the search for greater
expression in their own works.
On
June 15, 1797 the "Ligurian Republic" was created by Ligurian-Corsican
born (in those years was a Genoese Province) Napoleone Buonaparte
(after French nationalization called Napoleon Bonaparte), organizing
the conquered city of Genoa and its environs. The government was
modeled on that of the Directory in France, and the republic was
tied to France by alliance. In 1803 it became also a military
district, closely linked to France, and its chief of state became
appointable by Napoleon. In May 1805 the Ligurian Republic was
absorbed into the Napoleon French Empire for a few years.
The
republic of Genoa with his language, culture and governament system
persisted thousands of years, under many other kingdoms and loosing
along times all the lands and privileges conquered, 'til the constitution
in 1860 of the kingdom of italy, made in the name of kings of
Savoy, politically by the Genoese "Giuseppe Mazzini" and military
by the Ligurian "Giuseppe Garibaldi" who, starting from Genoa
with a crew of only one thousand soldiers, conquered all the land
now called italy, and gave all the kingdom to the king "Vittorio
Emanuele" with the historical phrase "I obey". Then the Genoese
"Goffredo Mameli" (b. Sept. 5, 1827, Genoa), poet and patriot
of the Risorgimento, authored the Italian anthem "Fratelli d'Italia"
("Brothers of Italy").
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