Antoniotto Adorno (Doge, around 1340)

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Antoniotto Adorno, Doge of Genoa

Antoniotto Adorno (* around 1340 in Genoa ; † June 5, 1398 in Finale Ligure ) was four times (June 17, 1378; June 15, 1384 to August 3, 1390; April 6, 1391 to June 16, 1392; September 3, 1394 to November 27, 1396) Doge of the Republic of Genoa and following his last term of office from November 27, 1396 to March 18, 1397 Governatore (governor) of Genoa for the French King Charles VI. to whom he had recently handed over the government of this city.

Early life and first three terms as a Doge

Antoniotto Adorno came from the old Adorno family , which although of non-noble origin, had become wealthy through trade. His parents were called Adornino Adorno and Nicolosia della Rocca. Little is known about his early years. In any case, he received a good education in literature and law and worked, among other things, as a businessman. He began his political career as governor (vicar) of Chiavari (1371–74). He also took part in the successful conquest of Cyprus in 1373 with his own galley .

Adorno first became a Genoese doge on June 17, 1378 after his followers had overthrown Domenico di Campofregoso by a tumultuous popular movement. But he could only stay as a doge for a few hours, since his co-conspirator Nicolò Guarco forced him to abdicate that same evening and now became a doge himself. Adorno had to flee Genoa and found refuge with the Milanese Visconti . He later went into exile in Savona , was then allowed to return to Genoa and, in April 1383, forced Nicolò Guarco to resign. Although he was not initially elected Doge despite his efforts, he was at least a member of the Anzianenrat.

As the successor to the late Leonardo Montaldi , Adorno finally received the Doge's office for the second time on June 15, 1384 with the help of the lower classes when a devastating plague epidemic raged in the city . He soon had his adversary Nicolò Guarco interned in Lerici . In 1385 he sent some Genoese galleys to Pope Urban VI, who was besieged in Nocera by the troops of the Neapolitan king Karl von Durazzo . He managed to escape, sailed to Genoa on the galleys sent to him and stayed here for about a year. Adorno also made peace with Aragon and decided to proceed against the pirating Saracens of Tunis . The Genoese fleet commanded by his brother Raffaele conquered the island of Djerba in June 1388 with Sicilian and Pisan help . The Doge then initiated the Franco-Genoese crusade against Mahdia . Genoa provided a fleet commanded by Giovanni Centurione for this undertaking carried out by Louis II de Bourbon in the summer of 1390 . Mahdia could not be captured, but in October 1390 a settlement with the caliph Abu l-Abbas Ahmad II was reached, in which he undertook, among other things, to cease piracy against Genoese ships. Adorno, who had also been elected arbitrator in 1387 in differences between the King of Cyprus and members of the Maona , resigned voluntarily on August 3, 1390 after a six-year tenure as doge due to domestic political difficulties, including hostility towards the Fregosi , and left the city. His successor was Giacomo Campofregoso .

But on April 6, 1391 Adorno took over the doge again. He brokered a very favorable peace for the Ghibelline Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti of Milan with his hostile powers Florence , Bologna and Venice , which he won the duke's favor. His failure to conquer the rival neighboring city of Savona, and the hostile attitude of influential Genoese families, however, forced Adorno to flee Genoa on June 15, 1392 and to give way to Antoniotto di Montaldo .

There were further devastating power struggles between leading Genoan families and constant changes of doges. During these disputes, when Francesco Giustiniano di Garibaldo was in power, Adorno appeared with an army, but was repulsed by Antontiotto di Montaldo, whereupon he was again the Doge on July 30, 1393.

Fourth Doge's office, Governor of Genoa for France and death

On September 3, 1394, Adorno was appointed Doge for the fourth time after he had seized Genoas. On November 27, 1394, he formed a Doge Council of 18 Anzianen, half of which consisted of popolars and the other half of nobles. Although Adorno was financially supported by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who tried to strengthen the Milanese influence in Genoa, the Doge found himself in a difficult situation. The Republic of Genoa had high debts, there were considerable economic difficulties in the country, the people were divided into numerous rival factions, and the hostilities of the Montaldi and Guarchi, which threatened him, had to be countered with violent measures. In addition, not only Milan but also France wanted to gain more influence in Genoa, and Savona had submitted to French rule on November 17, 1394.

Adorno doubted that this time he would be able to hold on to power much longer than in his previous terms. He was looking for a way out by which he could give Genoa the necessary calm and a secure future for himself. For this purpose he wanted to cede the government of Genoa to a foreign prince. While some advocated Ludwig von Orléans , Adorno preferred his brother, the French King Charles VI. This monarch seemed powerful enough to curb the disputes of the Genoese parties and, in Adorno's opinion, had no interest in reducing the freedom of the Genoese any further than a treaty allowed. Therefore Adorno negotiated with Charles VI through the nobleman Dagnano de 'Mallonei and the popular Pietro da Persio. because of the adoption of the Genoese signory. When Charles VI, partly against the will of his ministers, had agreed, but Adorno had won the Genoese for France, a treaty of submission was negotiated, which was signed on October 25, 1396.

The king promised a French governor to send, but Adorno should be the first such Governatore act. He and his from Charles VI. According to the treaty, sent successors would rule Genoa by doge power and under the same laws. The Senate or Council of Anzians should be equally occupied by Ghibellines and Guelphs, Popolars and Nobili, but a Ghibelline should preside. The king's governor should have two votes in the twelve-member council, where a majority of votes decided. Charles VI was not allowed to introduce new taxes or claim a share of the finances of the republic. He also had little power over the city castles, apart from ten that were to be given to the French troops. The Genoese also retained their alliance with Byzantium and Cyprus, free choice between the parties that separated the churches in the schism , and the integrity of their territory. Charles VI also promised not to transfer the power granted to him to any other prince.

On November 27, 1396 Adorno put his dignity as Doge down and was contractually by the French envoys to immediately Governatore appointed Genoa. But even now the internal turmoil did not cease; rather, Antoniotto di Montaldo and Antonio Guarco tried to overthrow him and the new French regiment, albeit unsuccessfully, by force of arms. Then French knights appeared in Genoa. Their leader, Valerando von Luxemburg-Ligny Count of Saint-Pol, gave Adorno supreme power on March 18, 1397 and retired to Finale Ligure, where he suffered the plague on June 5, 1398 at the age of about 58 died. He had been married twice, first to Luchina Savignone, then to Ginevra Doria, and had fifteen children.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Adorno, Antoniotto
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Doge of the Republic of Genoa
DATE OF BIRTH around 1340
PLACE OF BIRTH Genoa
DATE OF DEATH June 5, 1398
Place of death Finale Ligure