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 L ...

. 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 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 ...

. In about 1289 Corrado Spinola became the captain of the people in place of his father Oberto. In 1301 Corrado Spinola resigned the office of Captain of the people, as did Lamba Doria. 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. Th ...

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 citizen ...

. 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 ...

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 based in

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

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 long ...

from 1603 to 1629 is a member of this family.

Doges of the Republic of Genoa

Battista Spinola Battista Spinola was the 47th Doge of Genoa. He was elected on January 4, 1531 and held office for two years. Battista was the father of Luca Spinola who was the 57th Doge of Genoa. Sources *Malleson, George Bruce. ''Studies in Genoese History'' ...

, 47th doge. * Luca Spinola, 57th doge. *

Simone Spinola Simone Spinola (Genoa, 1497 - Genoa, 3 October 1569) was the 66th Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Biography Born in Genoa in a period around 1497, Simone Spinola was member of the noble Spinola family of the Luccoli branch and adhered to that n ...

, 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 Novem ...

, 90th doge *

Andrea Spinola Andrea Spinola (Genoa, 1562 - Genoa, 1641) was the 99th Doge of the Republic of Genoa. Biography On June 26, 1629 Spinola was chosen by the Grand Council to lead the highest office in the state: the fifty-fourth in two-year succession and t ...

, 99th doge. *

Alessandro Spinola Alessandro Spinola (Genoa, 1589 - Genoa, 1665) was the 112th Doge of the Republic of Genoa and king of Corsica. Biography Born in Genoa in 1589 and member of the Spinola family, the figure of Alessandro Spinola was chosen at the age of 23 to p ...

, 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, 125th doge. * Luca Spinola, 129th doge. *

Domenico Maria Spinola Domenico Maria Spinola (Bastia, 1666Bastia, 1743) was the 151st Doge of the Republic of Genoa and king of Corsica. Biography The Grand Council of 29 January 1732 elected him the new doge of the Republic of Genoa, the one hundred and sixth in ...

, 151st doge. *

Nicolò Spinola Nicolò Spinola (1677 in Genoa – 1743 in Genoa) was the 155th Doge of the Republic of Genoa and king of Corsica. Biography Spinola was appointed doge of Genoa in the election of 16 February 1740, the one hundred and tenth in biennial success ...

, 155th doge. * Ferdinando Spinola, 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