The House of Spinola, or Spinola family, was a leading Italian political family centered in 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 ...

. Their influence was at its greatest extent in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Important members

Guido Spinola was one of the first important members of the family. He served as Consul of Genoa in 1102. The family, which founded its wealth on trading, finance and the acquisition of land, originates from Guido and Oberto, grandsons of Belo Bozumi. The next Spinola to come to prominence after Guido was Oberto. In 1266 Oberto lead the Genoese fleets in a victory against the Venetians. In 1271 he joined forces with

Oberto Doria Oberto D'Oria (died 1306) was an Italian politician and admiral of the Republic of Genoa, ruling the republic as Capitano del popolo. Biography Oberto Doria was born at Genoa before 1230, the oldest of four sons of Pietro Doria and Mabilia Casic ...

to drive the foreign

Podestà Podestà (, English: Potestate, Podesta) was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of Central and Northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a city ...

of Genoa from power and reform the government. They managed to have the Podestà removed and replaced by two captains of the people, elected for 22 years, with Oberto Spinola and Oberto Doria being the first two elected to this office. How long Oberto Spinola remained as Captain of the people is not clear. However, Tommaso Spinola was a leading admiral in the Genoese war with

Pisa Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...

. In about 1289 Corrado Spinola became the captain of the people in place of his father Oberto. In 1301

Corrado Spinola Corrado may refer to: Places *Anticoli Corrado, comune in the City of Rome *Monte Vidon Corrado, comune in the Province of Fermo People Given name *See Corrado (given name) Surname *Andrea Corrado (1873-1963), Italian ship owner *Andrea Di Corrado ...

resigned the office of Captain of the people, as did

Lamba Doria Lamba D'Oria (also spelled Doria) (1245–1323) was an Italian admiral of the Republic of Genoa. The brother of the ''capitano del popolo'' Oberto Doria, he was one of the best Genoese admirals, together with his descendant Andrea Doria. He defeat ...

. This office was then replaced with a foreign

podestà Podestà (, English: Potestate, Podesta) was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of Central and Northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a city ...

and an

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The fem ...

of the people. The next phase of Spinola involvement was done by

Opicino Spinola Opicino Spinola (also called Opizzino Spinola) was a merchant and political leader in the Republic of Genoa in the early fourteenth century. He was a member of the Spinola Family and one of the richest men in Genoa. In January 1306, the citizens ...

. Galeotto Spinola was appointed Captain of the people in 1335 along with Raffaele Doria. They overthrew the power of

Robert of Naples Robert of Anjou ( it, Roberto d'Angiò), known as Robert the Wise ( it, Roberto il Saggio; 1276 – 20 January 1343), was King of Naples, titular King of Jerusalem and Count of Provence and Forcalquier from 1309 to 1343, the central figure of Ita ...

in Genoa. In 1435, Francesco Spinola was successful at the Siege of Gaeta in the war over the control of

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

. Shortly afterwards, Francesco led a revolt that ended the rule of a

Visconti Visconti is a surname which may refer to: Italian noble families * Visconti of Milan, ruled Milan from 1277 to 1447 ** Visconti di Modrone, collateral branch of the Visconti of Milan * Visconti of Pisa and Sardinia, ruled Gallura in Sardinia from ...

based in

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

over Genoa. The great Italian-Spanish general,

Ambrogio Spinola Ambrogio Spinola Doria, 1st Marquess of Los Balbases and 1st Duke of Sesto (1569-25 September 1630) was an Italian ''condottiero'' and nobleman of the Republic of Genoa, who served as a Spanish general and won a number of important battles. He i ...

, Captain-General of the

Army of Flanders The Army of Flanders ( es, Ejército de Flandes nl, Leger van Vlaanderen) was a multinational army in the service of the kings of Spain that was based in the Spanish Netherlands during the 16th to 18th centuries. It was notable for being the longe ...

from 1603 to 1629 is a member of this family.

Doges of the Republic of Genoa

* Battista Spinola, 47th doge. * Luca Spinola, 57th doge. * Simone Spinola, 66th doge. *

Tomaso Spinola Tomaso Spinola (Genoa, 1557 - Genoa, 1631) was the 90th Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Biography According to the annals of the Republic, the Dogate of Tomaso Spinola was somewhat peaceful and of ordinary administration. However, on 11 Novembe ...

, 90th doge * Andrea Spinola, 99th doge. * Alessandro Spinola, 112th

doge A doge ( , ; plural dogi or doges) was an elected lord and head of state in several Italian city-states, notably Venice and Genoa, during the medieval and renaissance periods. Such states are referred to as " crowned republics". Etymology The ...

. *

Agostino Spinola Agostino Spinola (c. 1482–1537) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography A member of the Spinola family, Agostino Spinola was born in Savona, Italy ca. 1482, the son of Giovanni Spinola, ''consignore'' of Garessio, and ...

, 125th doge. * Luca Spinola, 129th doge. * Domenico Maria Spinola, 151st doge. * Nicolò Spinola, 155th doge. *

Ferdinando Spinola Ferdinando Spinola (Genoa, 1692 – Genoa, 1778) was Marquis of Arquata Scrivia and the 172nd Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Biography After the elecetion 7 January 1773, Grand Council chose Spinola as the new Doge of the Republic of Genoa ...

, 172nd doge.

Sources

* Malleson, George Bruce. ''Studies in Genoese History''. p. 294ff

References

{{Authority control Families of Genoa Italian noble families Political families of Italy Republic of Genoa families