Brignole-Sale, Rodolfo Giulio

Born in Genoa in 1708, the youngest son of Anton, Giulio Brignole, Sale II, the fifth Marquis of Groppoli and the Ambassador of Genoa at the court of Versailles, and Isabella Brignole, his cousin. It was included in the Golden Book of the urban nobility on December 2, 1720 . He studied with his brother Giovanni Francesco at Tolomei College in Siena, was interested in literature and art. In 1739, he received his first appointment, becoming one of the "fathers of the city."

The following year, he went to Vienna to the court of Maria Theresa to seek help from the Austrians in restoring order in Corsica. Ambassador Rodolfo left the capital on June 8, 1740, and the next year met the Empress in Presburg , where the Vienna court was located at that time.

He returned to Genoa in 1742 and again became the father of the city, until 1745 . In the same years, he was also a member of the Small Council of the Republic, where he took an active part in meetings and supported the proposals of his brother Doge Giovanni Francesco. At the decisive stages that led to the occupation of Genoa by the Austrians - in the autumn-winter period of 1746 - Rodolfo was in Lucca , where he was treated for herpes , and then left for France, where he multiplied his fortune by trade.

From 1750 to 1762 he held the following government posts: in December 1750 he was appointed prosecutor; in 1754 and in 1765 he was twice the governor of the republic and in the same period was a member of the magistrate of new fortifications; four times elected senator of the Republic; He served as the inquisitor of the state and a member of the Supreme Syndication.

The death of his brother and former doge Giovanni Francesco in 1760 brought Rodolfo childless almost all family wealth, but also caused a long lawsuit with another brother, Giuseppe Maria. Among the property disputed by his brother was the historical estate of the Brignole Sale family - the Palazzo Rosso, which Rodolfo hastened to cordon off with people who were true to himself. To resolve the conflict, the Senate became the temporary owner of the building, but then ceded the Rodolfo building by court order.

Despite this ugly story, members of the Grand Council voted on November 25, 1762, to elect Rodolfo the Doge, 167th in republican history.

Board and recent years

The official coronation of the Doge took place on April 16, 1763 in the Cathedral of Genoa. The mandate of Doge Rodolfo was marked by the opening of the first schools for children from poor families and the persecution of the servitude order: they were ordered to leave the city after the head of the order without permission from the authorities of Genoa visited the island of Corsica.

The Doge’s mandate expired on November 25, 1764 , after which Rodolfo returned to the Palazzo Rosso. However, he later served the state as dean of the magistrate of war and president of the magistrate of state inquisitors. Between 1767 and 1773 he was one of the "defenders of the Jewish people."

He died on April 18, 1774 in Genoa from a sudden apoplexy blow and was buried in the family chapel in the church of Santa Maria di Castello.

Personal life

He was married to Pellina Lomellini, daughter of Giovanni Domenico Lomellini and Emilia Pallavicini. They had their only son, Anton Giulio Brignole Sale III, the ninth Marquis of Groppoli.

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