Fieski

Coat of arms of Fieschi - Princes Belmonte.

Fieschi ( Fieschi ) - one of the four aristocratic families who, together with their vassal clans ( albergo ) ruled the Republic of Genoa . In the intricacies of Italian politics, Fieschi traditionally held the Guelph side. In external relations, they defended the alliance of Genoa with the Anjou dynasty , and later with the French kings. From this kind came St. Catherine of Genoa , 72 cardinals and two popes - Innocent IV (one of the greatest pontiffs) and Adrian V.

The first surname Fieski was Hugo, the son of Count Lavagna . The election of his son as pope under the name Innocent IV led to the strengthening of the position of the Fieschi family in Liguria . In 1257, a popular uprising forced them to leave Genoa, but five years later, in alliance with Grimaldi, they regained their power in the city. In foreign policy, Fieski and Grimaldi relied on the forces of Karl of Anjou . In 1270, the Doria and Spinola families competing with them achieved a new expulsion of Fieschi from the republic.

At the beginning of the XIV century, Fieski tried to quarrel representatives of Dorius and Spinol, and this tactic allowed them to regain power in 1317. The next two decades were marked by incessant discord between the four main families of Genoa. In 1331, Robert Neapolitan took possession of Genoa, then the Doge position was introduced. During this period, Fieski was removed from control, performing mainly diplomatic and general posts.

At the beginning of the 15th century, Fieschi was once again at the peak of power, this time thanks to a diplomatic alliance with the Counts of Savoy and the kings of France. When in 1422 Genoa was taken by the Milanese ruler Filippo Maria Visconti , Fieschi led the fight against the invaders. After the city was liberated from the Milanese in 1436, Fieschi pursued a flexible policy towards the successors of Visconti on the Milanese throne - the Sforza clan.

The last great representative of the clan was Gian Luigi Fieschi , who led an unsuccessful conspiracy against Andrea Doria , who represented the opposite, about the Habsburg party. This event is dedicated to the tragedy of Schiller's " Conspiracy of Fieschi " (1780).