In the succeeding century, a much wider field was open ed for the restless and enterprizing spirit of the Genoese. The Venetians having, with the other crusaders, dethroned the Grecian Emperor, received, as their share of the spoil, one fourth and a half of the empire, in which were included all the maritime parts of Greece, with the island of Crete or Candia, and most of the Islands of the Archipelago. Un able, however, to colonize their conquests, many of them were left unoccupied, a circumstance which the Genoese did not fail to take advantage of. Their first attempts to obtain settlements in Candia, the Morea and Corfu, were conducted by a private individual, and the Venetians soon succeeded in expelling them.
About this period also, having warmly engaged on the side of the Pope, their fleet sustained a signal defeat from the united forces of the Pisans and Neapolitans, of 27 gal leys, three being sunk, and 19 taken. Undismayed by this reverse, they still continued in the papal interest, until 1261, when, having engaged in a long and bloody war with Venice about their possessions in Palestine, they entered into a strict alliance with Michael Paleologus, and bound themselves to assist him againts the Venetians, French, and the other crusaders. In this war they were successful ; and on Michael's regaining the throne of Constantinople, obtained from him the grant of many commercial privi leges, with the isle of Chios in the Archipelago.
Shortly afterwards, a fresh war broke out aith Pisa, on account of their Corsican possessions ; and large fleets be ing armed on both sides, continued for sonic time inactive, until the year 1284, when the Genoese, under the command of Oberto Doria, completely destroyed the Pisan fleet, of above 100 sail, commanded by Alberto Morosini, at Me loria. In this battle, the Pisans lost 5000 men, besides 11,000 prisoners, whom the Geonese retained for 16 years in captivity.
In 1298, commanded by another Doria, they obtained a signal victory over the Venetians at Corzola, which for a time put an end to the war. Their mutual jealousy, how ever, still continued ; and, in 1306, the Venetians having embraced the interests of Charles of Valois, and the Geno ese that of the Grecian Emperor Andronicus, the war broke out with fresh vigour. It was also about this time that civil dissentious arose at Genoa between the nobles and the people, which terminated in 1339 in the elevation of Simon Boccanigra to the dignity of Doge, under whose vigorous administration the republic at length enjoyed a season of tranquillity.
The Genoese had now obtained many valuble settlements in the Grecian empire, and had extended their commercial relation with the Russians and the north of Europe : they possessed the colonies of Kafra and Tana in the Crimea, and of Pera and Galata near Constantinople, which served as a depot for the nierchandize brought by them from India, Armenia, Egypt, and Arabia.
Their riches and power now began to excite the envy and avidity of Cantacusenus, the Emperor ofConstantino ple, whom they soon overcame, but to whom they granted peace on moderate terms. With the Venetians they were not so successful, and the war continued with great obsti nacy and various success for many years. At one time the Genoese, discouraged by the signal defeat of their Adiniral Grimaldi, threw themselves under the protection of John Visconti, Archbishop of Aldan. Some time after his death, however, in the year 1356, they threw off the yoke of his cruel and tyrannical nephews, and reasserted their liberty.
On the other hand, in the year 1379, the Genoese re duced the Venetians to the last extremity ; took the fort of Chiozza, and nearly made themselves masters of Venice.
At length, in 1381, the peace of Turin put an end to the war. In it the Venetians lost their continental possessions, and the greater part of their wealth. Nor was it less fatal to the victorious Genoese. Deprived of their best fleet and the flower of their sailors, and the finances of the re public exhausted by the length of the war, they were again forced to throw themselves under the power of a foreign master, and submit to the authority of Charles VI. king of France, and afterwards of the Dukes of Milan ; a slavery under which they continued for more than a century, not withstanding many ineffectual attempts to recover their liberty. At last, in 1528, Andrew Doria having expelled the French, restored the ancient form of government and freedom to his country ;—a rare instance of disinterested patriotism, as, supported by his fleet and the powerful as sistance of the Emperor Charles V. he might easily have retained possession of the sovereign power, and have even been aided by the people, to whom his liberality and milita ry virtues had justly endeared him. See DoniA.
After this period, the republic, although deprived of its former conquests, for a long time enjoyed, with liberty, peace and prosperity.
In 1624, it was engaged for a short time in a war with France and Savoy ; and in 1636, the city was unsuccessful ly attempted to be surprised by the Spaniards; but these wars were of no long duration.
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