Giovanni di Murta (died 6 January 1350[citation needed]) was elected the second Doge of the Republic of Genoa after the resignation of Simone Boccanegra, on 25 December 1345.[1] His dogate was dominated by his attempts to break the circle of political violence which had crippled the city over the past century and to reassert Genoese dominion over the Mediterranean colonies.
While his date of birth remains unknown, it is assumed that he was born in the early years of the 14th century in the village of Murta in the Val Polcevera, today one of the boroughs of the city of Genoa, to an affluent commoner family, however his mother was from the powerful Usodimare patrician family.[2]
The Maona of Chios and PhocaeaEdit
He became a banker by trade. After his accession to the office of doge, he managed to somewhat pacify the city torn apart by the conflict between the various local aristocratic families. In particular, he managed to prevent the Grimaldi clan from seizing the city. Against them, Giovanni di Murta chartered a fleet of over two dozen privately owned armed galleys under the command of the admiral Simone Vignoso.
As the Grimaldis did not go out at sea to oppose the Republic's galleys,[1] the doge sent the navy to support the island of Chios, then a Genoese colony, which was besieged by Jani Beg, khan of the Golden Horde. The fleet also managed to reconquer the city of Phocaea and its important alum mines on 20 September 1346.[1]
Upon his return, the admiral did not receive the very large amount of money initially promised to him as payment for his galleys. Consequently, the doge had to agree to entrust Vignoso and a group of his associates with the governorship of Chios, granting them at the same time the fiscal revenues from the island for twenty years. This group of investors became known as the Maona of Chios and Phocaea.[3]
Mounting tension in the regionEdit
Giovanni di Murta also tried to regain control over the island of Corsica. At the beginning of his dogate only the citadel of Bonifacio remained in Genoese hands,[1] the rest of the colony was de facto independent thanks to the support of the Kingdom of Aragon and of the Venetian fleet. The doge entrusted his son, Tommaso, with the mission of reconquering the island. This expedition marked the end of feudal anarchy in Corsica and the beginning of a more asserted Genoese rule over the island.[4] To fund military operations on the island, the Republic of Genoa had to borrow at interest rates of 20% from an association of creditors known as the Compera nuova acquisitionis Corsicæ on 27 December 1347.[5]
On the diplomatic front, Giovanni di Murta tried to appease the tension between Genoa and Venice that followed the assault of the Genoese of Pera on Constantinople, which was perceived by the Venetians as a threat to their domination in the Levant. He proposed a joint crusade against the Ottomans, an offer which was dismissed by the Venetians.[6]
Plague and successionEdit
The first major outbreaks of the Black Death occurred during his time in office. The Republic of Genoa was one of the first European cities hit by the pandemic, as it was a Genoese ship sailing away from Kaffa, in the Crimea, besieged by the Mongols, that carried the disease across the Mediterranean. From November 1347 to 1351, the plague killed 30 to 40 percent of the population of the city,[7] and the doge himself was among the victims. Giovanni di Murta died of the plague on 6 January 1350 and was buried in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. His successor, Giovanni Valente, was elected three days later in a climate of tension between popolanis and aristocrats, making evident that his efforts to unite the city would be short-lived.
Unlike most of the other doges of the history of Genoa, Giovanni I di Murta left an excellent image of his time in office. He is hailed as a pacifier at home and abroad and he has even been qualified as a "lover of the common good" by a modern historian. [8]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdEpstein, Steven A. (1996). Genoa and the Genoese 958-1528. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. p. 209 et seg. ISBN978-0-8078-4992-7.
^Gallo, Giuseppe (1997). La Repubblica di Genova tra nobili e popolari (1257-1528). De Ferrari. p. 191. ISBN9788871720920.
^Balard, Michel (1989). "The Genoese in the Aegean (1204-1566)". Mediterranean Historical Review. 4 (1): 158–174. doi:10.1080/09518968908569565.
^Angelini, Jean-Victor (1977). Histoire secrète de la Corse. Paris: Albin Michel. p. 117. ISBN978-2-226-00461-1.
^Canale, Michele Giuseppe (1864). Nuova Istoria della repubblica di Genova. Epoca quarta (1339–1528): I dogi popolari. Florence: Felice Le Monnier. p. 151.
^Hazlitt, William Carew (1860). History of the Venetian Republic: her rise, her greatness and her civilization. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 105.
^Gottfried, Robert S. (1985). The black death: natural and human disaster in medieval Europe. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 43. ISBN978-0-02-912370-6.
^Ossian De Negri, Teofilo (2003). Storia di Genoa. Florence: Giunti Editore. p. 458. ISBN978-88-09-02932-3.
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Giovanni di Murta died 6 January 1350 citation needed was elected the second Doge of the Republic of Genoa after the resignation of Simone Boccanegra on 25 December 1345 1 His dogate was dominated by his attempts to break the circle of political violence which had crippled the city over the past century and to reassert Genoese dominion over the Mediterranean colonies Giovanni I di Murta2nd Lifetime Doge of the Republic of GenoaIn office 25 December 1345 6 January 1350Preceded bySimone BoccanegraSucceeded byGiovanni II ValentePersonal detailsBornunknown dateMurta Republic of GenoaDied 1350 01 06 6 January 1350Genoa Republic of GenoaPolitical partyPopolaniProfessionBanker Contents 1 Early life 2 The Maona of Chios and Phocaea 3 Mounting tension in the region 4 Plague and succession 5 ReferencesEarly life EditWhile his date of birth remains unknown it is assumed that he was born in the early years of the 14th century in the village of Murta in the Val Polcevera today one of the boroughs of the city of Genoa to an affluent commoner family however his mother was from the powerful Usodimare patrician family 2 The Maona of Chios and Phocaea EditHe became a banker by trade After his accession to the office of doge he managed to somewhat pacify the city torn apart by the conflict between the various local aristocratic families In particular he managed to prevent the Grimaldi clan from seizing the city Against them Giovanni di Murta chartered a fleet of over two dozen privately owned armed galleys under the command of the admiral Simone Vignoso As the Grimaldis did not go out at sea to oppose the Republic s galleys 1 the doge sent the navy to support the island of Chios then a Genoese colony which was besieged by Jani Beg khan of the Golden Horde The fleet also managed to reconquer the city of Phocaea and its important alum mines on 20 September 1346 1 Upon his return the admiral did not receive the very large amount of money initially promised to him as payment for his galleys Consequently the doge had to agree to entrust Vignoso and a group of his associates with the governorship of Chios granting them at the same time the fiscal revenues from the island for twenty years This group of investors became known as the Maona of Chios and Phocaea 3 Mounting tension in the region EditGiovanni di Murta also tried to regain control over the island of Corsica At the beginning of his dogate only the citadel of Bonifacio remained in Genoese hands 1 the rest of the colony was de facto independent thanks to the support of the Kingdom of Aragon and of the Venetian fleet The doge entrusted his son Tommaso with the mission of reconquering the island This expedition marked the end of feudal anarchy in Corsica and the beginning of a more asserted Genoese rule over the island 4 To fund military operations on the island the Republic of Genoa had to borrow at interest rates of 20 from an association of creditors known as the Compera nuova acquisitionis Corsicae on 27 December 1347 5 On the diplomatic front Giovanni di Murta tried to appease the tension between Genoa and Venice that followed the assault of the Genoese of Pera on Constantinople which was perceived by the Venetians as a threat to their domination in the Levant He proposed a joint crusade against the Ottomans an offer which was dismissed by the Venetians 6 Plague and succession EditThe first major outbreaks of the Black Death occurred during his time in office The Republic of Genoa was one of the first European cities hit by the pandemic as it was a Genoese ship sailing away from Kaffa in the Crimea besieged by the Mongols that carried the disease across the Mediterranean From November 1347 to 1351 the plague killed 30 to 40 percent of the population of the city 7 and the doge himself was among the victims Giovanni di Murta died of the plague on 6 January 1350 and was buried in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo His successor Giovanni Valente was elected three days later in a climate of tension between popolanis and aristocrats making evident that his efforts to unite the city would be short lived Unlike most of the other doges of the history of Genoa Giovanni I di Murta left an excellent image of his time in office He is hailed as a pacifier at home and abroad and he has even been qualified as a lover of the common good by a modern historian 8 References Edit a b c d Epstein Steven A 1996 Genoa and the Genoese 958 1528 Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Press p 209 et seg ISBN 978 0 8078 4992 7 Gallo Giuseppe 1997 La Repubblica di Genova tra nobili e popolari 1257 1528 De Ferrari p 191 ISBN 9788871720920 Balard Michel 1989 The Genoese in the Aegean 1204 1566 Mediterranean Historical Review 4 1 158 174 doi 10 1080 09518968908569565 Angelini Jean Victor 1977 Histoire secrete de la Corse Paris Albin Michel p 117 ISBN 978 2 226 00461 1 Canale Michele Giuseppe 1864 Nuova Istoria della repubblica di Genova Epoca quarta 1339 1528 I dogi popolari Florence Felice Le Monnier p 151 Hazlitt William Carew 1860 History of the Venetian Republic her rise her greatness and her civilization London Smith Elder amp Co p 105 Gottfried Robert S 1985 The black death natural and human disaster in medieval Europe New York Simon and Schuster p 43 ISBN 978 0 02 912370 6 Ossian De Negri Teofilo 2003 Storia di Genoa Florence Giunti Editore p 458 ISBN 978 88 09 02932 3 nbsp Middle Ages portal nbsp Christianity portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Giovanni I di Murta amp oldid 1169278102, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
