Republic of Genoa

Republic of Genoa
Repubblica di Genova, "La Superba"  (Italian) Repúbrica de Zêna  (Ligurian)
1005–1797 Apr 1814 – Jan 1815
Flag Coat of arms
Motto Respublica superiorem non recognoscens (Latin: "Republic that recognizes [lit. 'recognizing'] no superior")
View of Genoa and its fleet by Christoforo de Grassi (1597 copy, after a drawing of 1481); Galata Museo del Mare, Genoa.
Capital		Genoa
Languages		Ligurian, Latin, Italian
Religion		Roman Catholic
Government		Oligarchic republic
Doge
•	1339–1344	Simone Boccanegra
•	1795–1797	Giacomo Maria Brignole
•	1814–1815	Girolamo Serra ()
Historical era		Middle Ages Early modern period
•	Established	1005
•	Disestablished	June 14, 1797
•	Re-established	April 26, 1814
•	Disestablished	January 7, 1815
Currency		Genovino
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Italy (imperial) Gênes Ligurian Republic Kingdom of Sardinia
Today part of		Italy  France  Greece  Monaco  Russia  Tunisia  Turkey  Ukraine (Crimea)

The Republic of Genoa (Ligurian: Repúbrica de Zêna /re'pybrika 'de 'ze:na/, Latin: Res Publica Ianuensis, Italian: Repubblica di Genova) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, incorporating Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean.

It began when Genoa became a self-governing commune within the Regnum Italicum, and ended when it was conquered by the French First Republic under Napoleon and replaced with the Ligurian Republic. Corsica was ceded to France in the Treaty of Versailles of 1768. The Ligurian Republic was annexed by the First French Empire in 1805; its restoration was briefly proclaimed in 1814 following the defeat of Napoleon, but it was ultimately annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815.

Before 1100, Genoa emerged as an independent city-state, one of a number of Italian city-states during this period. Nominally, the Holy Roman Emperor was overlord and the Bishop of Genoa was president of the city; however, actual power was wielded by a number of "consuls" annually elected by popular assembly. Genoa was one of the so-called "Maritime Republics" (Repubbliche Marinare), along with Venice, Pisa, and Amalfi and trade, shipbuilding and banking helped support one of the largest and most powerful navies in the Mediterranean. The Adorno, Campofregoso, and other smaller merchant families all fought for power in this Republic, as the power of the consuls allowed each family faction to gain wealth and power in the city. The Republic of Genoa extended over modern Liguria and Piedmont, Sardinia, Corsica, Nice and had practically complete control of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Through Genoese participation on the Crusades, Genoese colonies were established in the Middle East, in the Aegean, in Sicily and Northern Africa.