The House of Fregoso or di Campofregoso was a noble family of the

Republic of Genoa The Republic of Genoa ( lij, Repúbrica de Zêna ; it, Repubblica di Genova; la, Res Publica Ianuensis) was a medieval and early modern maritime republic from the 11th century to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast. During the Lat ...

and

Liguria Liguria (; lij, Ligûria ; french: Ligurie) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is ...

in general, divided into numerous branches, whose members distinguished themselves on numerous historical occasions; many of them held the position of

Doge of Genoa The Doge of Genoa ( lij, Dûxe, ; la, Januensium dux et populi defensor, "Commander of the Genoese and Defender of the People") was the ruler of the Republic of Genoa, a city-state and soon afterwards a maritime republic, from 1339 until the s ...

, some were also lords of

Sarzana Sarzana (, ; lij, Sarzann-a) is a town, ''comune'' (municipality) and former short-lived Catholic bishopric in the Province of La Spezia, Liguria, Italy. It is east of Spezia, on the railway to Pisa, at the point where the railway to Parma diver ...

; others finally held various fiefdoms, lands and titles along the arc of the Ligurian Apennines, such as the county of

Sant'Agata Feltria Sant'Agata Feltria ( rgn, Sant'Êgta) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Rimini in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about southeast of Bologna and about south of Rimini. Overview It is home to a large fortress (''Fortil ...

which was owned by

Agostino Fregoso Agostino Fregoso (1442 - 1486) was an Italian condottiero belonging to the Fregoso family of Genoa. He was also lord of Sant'Agata Feltria. The son of three-time doge of Genoa Lodovico di Campofregoso, he moved from Genoa to the Marche to esca ...

. The Fregoso family monopolized the Dogate's lifetime office, becoming the dynasty who produced the highest number of doges in the history of the Republic.

History

Originating from the locality of

Val Polcevera Val Polcevera is one of the main valleys crossing Genoa, taking its name from the eponymous river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river f ...

, on the hill above Rivarolo, they were enterprising merchants, active in the political affairs of the city from the

13th century The 13th century was the century which lasted from January 1, 1201 ( MCCI) through December 31, 1300 ( MCCC) in accordance with the Julian calendar. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan, which stretched from Eastern Asia to Eastern Eu ...

, with Rolando, a castellan from

Voltaggio Voltaggio (Ottaggio in Ligurian) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Alessandria. Located there is a Roman bridge on the Lemme st ...

Gavi GAVI, officially Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (previously the GAVI Alliance, and before that the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) is a public–private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization ...

and

Porto Venere Porto Venere (; until 1991 ''Portovenere''; lij, Pòrtivene) is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) located on the Ligurian coast of Italy in the province of La Spezia. It comprises the three villages of Fezzano, Le Grazie and Porto Venere, and ...

. The family had a strong influence on Genoese political life and thirteen members of the Fregoso family became doges; the first of them was Domenico di Campofregoso, but the most famous was certainly

Paolo Fregoso Paolo di Campofregoso (1427 – 22 March 1498) was an Italian Catholic archbishop who was three times doge of Genoa. Biography The son of doge Battista Fregoso, he was convinced by Pope Nicholas V to study ecclesiastical matters at Pavia. In 14 ...

, emblematic personage of a political history dominated by ambition and by the calculation of circumstances which was generally a characteristic of the family. In addition to the Doges, other personalities distinguished themselves in various fields, military like Abraham , Augustine and Cesare Fregoso, writers like Antoniotto or ecclesiastics like

Federigo Fregoso Federigo Fregoso (c. 1480, Genoa – 22 July 1541), was an Italian nobleman, prelate and general. Early life and family Fregoso was born to the Fregoso family, a family who in the late fourteenth century gave two Doges of Genoa to the Republic ...

. The Fregoso family lost its political importance in the first half of the 16th century with the end of the Dogate of

Ottaviano Fregoso Ottaviano Fregoso (born in Genoa, 1470 - died in Ischia, 1524) was the Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Biography Ottaviano Fregoso, was the son of Agostino Fregoso and Gentile di Montefeltro, daughter of the renowned '' condottiero'', patron of ...

, imprisoned by the Spaniards and died in prison in

Ischia Ischia ( , , ) is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It lies at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, about from Naples. It is the largest of the Phlegrean Islands. Roughly trapezoidal in shape, it measures approximately east to west ...

. In 1528, the family was incorporated in the Alberghi of the families De Fornari and De Ferrari ; resumed its name in 1576, but since then it no longer had any historical importance.

Doges of the Republic of Genoa

Battista Fregoso Battista Fregoso (Genoa, 1380Genoa, June 20, 1442) was the 27th Doge of the Republic of Genoa. His leadership lasted only one day. Biography Son of the former doge Pietro Fregoso and his second wife Benedetta Doria, brother of Tomaso di Camp ...

Battista Fregoso (1450-1505) Battista Fregoso (Genoa, 1380Genoa, June 20, 1442) was the 27th Doge of the Republic of Genoa. His leadership lasted only one day. Biography Son of the former doge Pietro Fregoso and his second wife Benedetta Doria, brother of Tomaso di Camp ...

* Domenico di Campofregoso *

Giacomo Fregoso Giacomo Fregoso or Campofregoso (1340–1420) was a statesman who became the 10th doge of Genoa, doge Republic of Genoa, of Genoa. Youth Giacomo's father, Domenico di Campofregoso, Domenico Fregoso, was elected doge of Genoa in 1370. Giacom ...

Giano I di Campofregoso Giano I di Campofregoso (died 16 December 1448) was the 31st Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Biography Son of Bartolomeo Fregoso and Caterina Ordelaffi, daughter of the lord of Forlì Antonio I Ordelaffi, he was born in Genoa around 1405. Grands ...

Giano II di Campofregoso Giano II di Campofregoso (1455–1529) was the 43rd Doge of Genoa, ruling from 29 June 1512 to 25 May 1513. The son of Tommasino Fregoso and Caterina Malaspina, he first trained in Corsica, then moved to Rome where he received a cavalry command ...

Lodovico di Campofregoso Lodovico di Campofregoso (1415–1489) was an Italian nobleman who was three times doge of Genoa. Biography The son of Bartolomeo di Campofregoso and Caterina Ordelaffi, he was the brother of Giano I di Campofregoso. He studied under humanist Bar ...

Pietro Fregoso Pietro Fregoso (or Campofregoso; 1330 – 22 April 1404) was a statesman who became the 13th Doge of Genoa. Biography His birth date is not known precisely but his father was Rolando Fregoso and his mother Manfredina Fregoso. His brother Domenic ...

Pietro di Campofregoso Pietro Campofregoso (1417 – 14 September 1459) was Doge of Genoa from 1450 to 1458. Biography Family He was a grandson of Tommaso di Campofregoso, he was a vassal of the Visconti of Milan, Visconti as lord of Gavi, Piedmont, Gavi. Mar ...

Paolo di Campofregoso Paolo di Campofregoso (1427 – 22 March 1498) was an Italian Catholic archbishop who was three times doge of Genoa. Biography The son of doge Battista Fregoso, he was convinced by Pope Nicholas V to study ecclesiastical matters at Pavia. In 1 ...

Spinetta Fregoso Spinetta Fregoso (Genoa, 1400Gavi, 1467) was the 35th Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Biography Son of Spinetta I Fregoso and Benedetta Doria, and grandson of the former Doge Pietro Fregoso, he was born in the Genoese capital in a period arou ...

Tomaso di Campofregoso Tomaso di Campofregoso (1375–1453) was doge of the Republic of Genoa three times. Biography The son of Pietro Campofregoso, who had been doge for a single day on 13 July 1393, in the early 15th century he was named captain of the Republic of ...

Other important members

Condottiero ''Condottieri'' (; singular ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period. They notably served popes and other Europe ...

* Cesare Fregoso: Condottiero * Paolo Battista Fregoso: Condottiero * Giano Fregoso:

Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

: Nobleman, prelate and general. *

Pomellina Fregoso Pomellina Fregoso (1387/88 in Genoa – 1468 in Monaco) was Lady Consort of Monaco by marriage to Jean I, Lord of Monaco, and the mother of Lord Catalan. She served as regent of Monaco several times during the absence of her husband between 1437 ...

: Lady Consort of Monaco by marriage to Jean I,

Lord of Monaco The following is a list of rulers of Monaco. Most belong to the House of Grimaldi; exceptions, which consist primarily of the principality's administrators under periods of foreign occupation, are noted. History The House of Grimaldi, descended ...

, and the mother of Lord Catalan * Galeotto di Campofregoso: Condottiero

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fregoso Family Families of Liguria Republic of Genoa families

History

Doges of the Republic of Genoa

Other important members

See also

References