The Bombardment of Genoa was a military event during the War of the Reunions when France bombarded the city of

Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...

from the sea between May 18 and May 28, 1684.

Background

The

Republic of Genoa The Republic of Genoa ( ; ; ) was a medieval and early modern Maritime republics, maritime republic from the years 1099 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italy, Italian coast. During the Late Middle Ages, it was a major commercial power in ...

was strategically a very important ally of the

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...

, as the Spanish

Duchy of Milan The Duchy of Milan (; ) was a state in Northern Italy, created in 1395 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, then the lord of Milan, and a member of the important Visconti of Milan, Visconti family, which had been ruling the city since 1277. At that time, ...

was landlocked. All transport between Spain and Milan went through the port of Genoa. Furthermore, the financing of the Spanish crown by the Genoese bankers had made both countries natural allies ever since 1557, when the state bankruptcy of Philip II had ended the reign of the German Fuggers as Spanish financiers. After the

War of Devolution The War of Devolution took place from May 1667 to May 1668. In the course of the war, Kingdom of France, France occupied large parts of the Spanish Netherlands and County of Burgundy, Franche-Comté, both then provinces of the Holy Roman Empire ...

and the

Franco-Dutch War The Franco-Dutch War, 1672 to 1678, was primarily fought by Kingdom of France, France and the Dutch Republic, with both sides backed at different times by a variety of allies. Related conflicts include the 1672 to 1674 Third Anglo-Dutch War and ...

(1672-78), it was clear that

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

had replaced Spain as the most powerful country in Europe. In October 1683, France annexed some territory in the

Spanish Netherlands The Spanish Netherlands (; ; ; ) (historically in Spanish: , the name "Flanders" was used as a '' pars pro toto'') was the Habsburg Netherlands ruled by the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs from 1556 to 1714. They were a collection of States of t ...

, starting the War of the Reunions. When Spain sent reinforcements via the port of Genoa, the French decided to punish the city.

French attack

Without a formal declaration of war, a French fleet, commanded by Abraham Duquesne, bombarded the city of Genoa between May 18 and May 28, 1684. About 13,000 cannonballs were shot at the city in ten days time with a pause from May 21–22. The bombardment was terrible for the city and its people because it was the first time in history in which explosive bombs were used, although of stone or iron. The French tried to land troops at

Albaro Albaro is an affluent residential neighbourhood of the Italian city of Genoa, located east of the city centre. It was formerly an independent comune, named San Francesco d'Albaro, included in the city of Genoa in 1873. At present, together w ...

(as a diversion) and Sampierdarena (as the main attack), but they were defeated by Genoese troops and volunteers from the Polcevera valley.

Consequences

In 1682, François Pidou de Saint Olon had become the first French resident envoy to the Republic of Genoa,''Europa triumphans: court and civic festivals in early modern Europe'' J. R. Mulryne p.240 Note 14
/ref> and he was actively involved in the bombardment: indeed he communicated precious information to the French about the defence of Genoa and the position of the batteries of guns, being practically a spy. The Republic of Genoa came under French influence for the next 100 years, although it remained independent and became neutral. The Genoese bankers and traders made new economic and financial links with France.

Notes

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Genoa, Bombardment of Conflicts in 1684 Naval battles involving France Naval battles involving the Republic of Genoa 1684 in the Republic of Genoa Military history of Genoa War of the Reunions Naval bombing operations and battles