Doria, Nicolo

The early years

The son of Giacomo Doria and Bettina de Marie, was born in Genoa, presumably around 1525, and was a direct descendant of a branch of the Doria family - Lamba Doria. The Nicolo family has risen in Genoa due to the relationship with Andrea Doria and Doria 's extensive business connections with Spanish commercial and banking circles.

The political career of Nicolo was promoted by his uncle Giovanni Battista Doria , a loyal ally of Andrea Doria and the Doge in 1537-1539. In 1555, Nicolo joined the Grand Council of the Republic, and in 1558 he received an appointment to the Syndicatorium, a body that evaluated the effectiveness of the work of the Doges, as an assistant judge.

In 1566 , along with Battista Cattaneo, Ansaldo Giustiniani and former Doge Simone Spinola , he was the representative of the Republic of Genoa in Rome at the inauguration of Pope Pius V. As a diplomat, he was sent to Turin in March 1569 to coordinate territorial disputes over the city of Villafranca.

Nicolo entered the Senate in 1568 as one of the twelve governors, and in 1570 became one of the eight prosecutors responsible for financial management. In this capacity, he participated in a meeting in Ventimiglia , together with the former Doge Giacomo Promontorio , with the King of Spain Philip II and his half-brother Don Juan of Austria , at which the participation of the Genoese in the war with the Turks was discussed. October 7, 1571 Nicolo participated in the famous battle of Lepanto in the Genoese fleet.

Between 1575 and 1576, during the Civil War, during which Genoa was divided into fractions of the “new” and “old” nobles, Nicolo was named as one of nine members of the deputation of the “old” nobility in negotiations with the “new” nobility in Finale Ligure. On the occasion of the extraordinary taxation of the assets necessary to cover the costs of the civil war, the sources preserved the size of the wealthiest then residents of Genoa: Giovanni Andrea Doria - 200,000 kroons, Nicolo Doria - 162,500 kroons.

Activity during the Civil War and Nicolo’s significant fortune determined the outcome of the Doge’s election on October 20, 1579 : he received 269 votes, more than all his predecessors.

Board

The new doge, Nicolo Doria, tried to revive Genoa, devastated by the civil war between noble families. In addition, the recent outbreak of plague between 1579 and 1580, which claimed the lives of more than 28,000 people in Genoa alone, required the Doge to take the necessary health measures.

During his tenure, Nicolo appointed a new chronicler of the republic, Antonio Roccatallata, who succeeded the late bishop Oberto Folletta. The “Annals of the Roccatalyata” date from 1581-1607. The chronicler left almost exclusively positive reviews about the identity of Nicolo Doria. Despite internal suspicions and disagreements, Doria’s mandate proceeded without apparent problems. The chronicles describe that at that time, Maria of Spain , the widow of Maximilian II , visited Genoa, where she boarded a ship and headed home.

At the end of his mandate, on October 20, 1581, Nicolo Doria was recommended for appointment as a life prosecutor, but due to disputes within the Syndicate, he was appointed only after two years ( 1583 ).

Recent years

In 1583, Nicolo was appointed life prosecutor and representative of Genoa to the Magistrate of Corsica. In 1584, he also joined the magistrate of Genoa. He later became director of the arsenal and patron of the Inquisition. In 1588, Nicolo headed the Magistrate of Borders and held this post until 1591 .

Nicolo Doria died in Genoa on October 13, 1592 , his remains were buried in the chapel of St. Communion of St. Matthew's Church, the burial place of the Doria family.

Personal life

Nicolo was married to Aurelia Grimaldi - the last daughter of banker Philip II Nicolo Grimaldi - and made nine children with her: Giovanni Battista (married Victoria Spinola), Giovanni Stefano (married Octavia Spinola, Victoria's sister and daughter Giovanni Spinola), Libya, Marie , Marco Antonio, Giacomo, Camillo, Giovanni Girolamo and Giovanni Pietro.

Most of Nikolo’s fortune went to the future Doge Giovanni Stefano Doria ( 1633 - 1635 ), who at one time became the richest man in Italy.

• Sergio Buonadonna, Mario Mercenaro, Rosso doge. I dogi della Repubblica di Genova dal 1339 al 1797, Genova, De Ferrari Editori, 2007.