Nicolò Guarco
| Nicolò Guarco | |
|---|---|
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| 7th Lifetime Doge of the Republic of Genoa | |
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In office 17 June, 1378 – 7 April, 1383 |
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| Preceded by | Antoniotto Adorno |
| Succeeded by | Federico di Pagana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c.1325 Parodi, Liguria, Italy |
| Died | c.1385 Lerici, Liguria, Italy |
| Political party | Popolani |
| Spouse(s) | Linò Onza |
Nicolò Guarco (Parodi, c.1325 – Lerici, c.1385) was a Genoese politician and statesman who became the 7th doge of the Republic of Genoa and led the Republic through the War of Chioggia against Venice.
Son of a merchant, Nicolò appears first in the documents, in 1351, as a Genoese ambassador sent to the king of France, John II. The same year, he is for the first time made a member of the council of the ancients, the closest advisors to the doge. In 1365, he is given the office of vicar (governor) of the city of Chiavari. He is soon after put in charge of the harbour and re-integrates the council of the ancients. During the 1360s, he seems to have been one of the main opponents of the new doge, Gabriele Adorno.
After the end of the dogeship of Adorno, Nicolò returned to the highest functions in the Genoese state. In 1371, he was sent as ambassador to Portugal. The following year, he took the castle of Roccatagliata from the rebel nobles of the Fieschi family. He then occupied numerous positions within the Genoese government, in particular, he was elected a third time to the council and sent as ambassador to the pope in Avignon. In 1375, he also became one of the shareholders of the maona di Cipro, an association in charge of capturing the island of Cyprus.
At the time, the power of the popolani over the city was under the threat of a three-way alliance between the Venetian Republic, the Viscontis of Milan and the Genoese nobles who intended to regain the upper hand over the affairs of the city. The threat materialized in 1378, when the mercenaries of the company of the Star paid by the duke of Milan took control of the Genoese countryside. The city was in turmoil and, on June 17, the crowd stormed the dogal palace and elected Antoniotto Adorno as the new doge. But the leaders of the popolani party were wary of the ambitious young Adorno and, a few hours later, the elected Nicolò Guarco the new doge of the Republic.
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