Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 6.djvu/478

 GENOA

420

GENOA

Naples. A little later, Rubert of Anjou (131S-l;«5) was called in by the Ciuelphs in opposition to the Vis- conti of Milan, favoured by the Ghibellines. When the Venetians, together with the Greeks and Cata- lonians, wished, in 1342, to occupy the island of Scio as an outpost against the Turks, the Genoese, profiting by a quarrel among the allies, forestalled them. This, amongst other causes, led to a fresh outbreak of war in 1350. In the Bosphorus (1352), a fierce but indecisive battle was fought; while at Alghero in Sardinia (1353) the Genoese were defeated by the Venetians and their allies. Genoa then chose Giovanni Visconti, Arch- bishop of Milan, as its ruler or "Signore". In 1354,

OF Genoa (XIII Century)

Paganino Doria routed the Venetian forces in the Adriatic and at Porto Longone in the Morea (Greece). Driven out of the Black Sea, the Venetian.s took Beirut by way of compensation, and Genoa seized Cyprus (1373). When the Greek Emperor, John V, gave the Venetians the island of Tenedos, the Genoese, fearing lest the former should thereby have access to the Black Sea, espoused the cause of Andronicus; in this way broke out the conflict known as the War of Chioggia. The Genoese, defeated at Anzio (1378), were victorious at Pola (1379) and blockaded Venice, but were obliged to surrender when the blockade was broken by Vettor Pisani. The great rivals were now exhausted.

During the fifteenth century, Genoa constantly called on outsiders to rule her, but as constantly re- belled against their rule (1396-1409, France; 1409- 1413, Teodoro II Paleologo di Monferrato; 1422-1435, Filippo Maria Vi.sconti; 1458-1461, France; 1404- 1478, 1487-1499, the Sforza of Milan; 1499^1512, 1515-1522, France). Meanwhile her colonies in the Kast were slipping away (Pera, 1453; Caffa, 1475). In 1431, at Portofino, the fleet in the service of Visconti was defeated by (he Venetian and Florentine allies. Genoa was involved in the conflict between Francis I and Gharles V, and in 1522 was sacked by the Span- iarfls. In 1527, the Spanish were expelled by the celebrated Andrea Doria with French aid, and in the

year following Andrea succeeded in rid<ling himself of his French allies. The "Signoria" was offered him, but he prudently refused the title, though in reality he exercised its powers. This brought about the Fieschi Plot (1546), which proved abortive owing to the death of its leader. Noteworthy events in the subsequent history of Genoa are the attempts of Corsica to shake off Genoese authority (1553; 1737, King Theodore), its annexation by France in 1768, and the two con- spiracies for the annexation of Genoa by Savoy (Va- chero, 1628; Delia Torre, 1672). In 1684, Louis XIV, without any just cause, had the town bombarded. A himdred years later (1797) the French set up there a democratic republic. In 1800, Mass^na sustained a famous siege and blockade on the part of the Austrians and English. In 1805, the duchy was annexed to France, but in 1814 was provisionally, and in 1815 definitely, annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Genoa owes to the magnificence of its architecture its title of "La Superba" (the Proud). Among its best-known churches are: San Lorenzo, rebuilt in the twelfth century, the lower part of the fa^'ade dating from 1100, the remainder from 1523. The spandrils over the door are decorated with bas-reliefs of various periods. The cupola dates from 1567. There are ])aintings by Barrocci, Ferrari, Cambiaso, and sculp- tures by Montorsoli, Sansovino, Guglielnio della Porta and others. Near by is the little church of St. John the Baptist, formerly the baptistery of the city. The church of Saints Andrew and Ambrose (600) has paint- ings by Guido Reni and Rubens. Santissima Annun- ziata has beautiful Composite columns, and a famous Last Supper by Procaccino. In the church of St. Catherine of Genoa (with the saint's room adjoining) may be seen her body preserved in a silver urn. The church of Saints Cosmas and Damian antedates the year 1000; that of St. Donatus, consecrated in 1189, is iniilt of old Roinan materials. St. Philip Neri dates from 1694 ; the GesCi Maria from 1487. The latter has paintings by Paggi, Cambiaso, and Saliinbeni. St. George's has two bronze doors, a part of the booty of Almeria (1148). The altar of St. John's was erected after the victory at Pola. On the facade of St. Mark's ( 1 173) is a marble lion captured from the Venetians at Pola. Other churches are: Santa Maria in Castello (cohnnns of oriental granite) ; Santa Maria del Carmine (rich tabernacle); San Siro (the cathedral till 985); San Stefano, which existed in 493, and has a painting l)y (iiulio Romano. San Matteo, containing the war- trophies of the Dorias, was founded in 1 125 by Martino Doria, and restored by Andrea Doria from plans by PVa Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli; on the facade is the sarcophagus of Lamba Doria, the victor at Curzola; under the high altar is the tomb of Andrea Doria by Montorsoli, and several inscriptions recall the triumphs of this noble family of seamen and rulers. Santa Maria in Carignano (sixteenth century), one of the handsomest churches in the world, is in the form of a Greek cross; its cupola is the work of Galeazzo Alessi (q. v.) of Perugia. The Campo Santo, or public ceme- tery, is also greatly adinired for its beautiful statuary. Among Genoa's public edifices are the Albergo dei Poveri, or home for the poor (1655), with a church attached; the Loggia dei Banchi, or exchange, built by Galeazzo Alessi. The Palazzo Ducale (1291) is crowned with a row of stucco statues of the various princes and kings defeated by the Genoese ; its spacious lialls were adorned by famous artists. The Palazzo S. Giorgio (1260), restored in 1308, has many statues of the doges of the fifteenth century. Worthy of notice also are the tmiversity, founded in 1471 by liartiilonuMi Bianco, the Palazzo Reale, and the Muni- cipin or Town Hall. Genoa has many famous private palaces, c. g. the Adorno, with paintings by Rubens, Guido Reni, Titian, and Giulio Romano; the Doria, with a representation of ,St. George and the Dragon over the tloorway. Besiilcs the university, there is a