- Simone Boccanegra
Simone
Boccanegra (died 1363) was the first doge of Genoa. His story was popularized byGiuseppe Verdi 's opera "Simon Boccanegra ".Boccanegra was elected as doge for life on
September 24 ,1339 , as the candidate of the "popular"Ghibelline faction. Boccanegra was opposed by the aristocraticGuelf faction, representing the old mercantile patriciate, which his first actions excluded from public life. With the old patriciate excluded from power, a new class of mercantile houses arose: Adorno,Guarco ,Fregoso , andMontaldo .During Boccanegra's dogate, Genoese control was extended the length of both
Riviera s, with the exception of theGrimaldi holdings in Monaco and Ventimiglia, and Genoesegalley s went to the aid ofAlfonso XI of Castile in his struggles against theSaracen s.There were constant conspiracies and attempts against Boccanegra's life from the outset. (The first conspirator's head rolled on
December 20 1339 .) This led to the establishment of a bodyguard of 103 mounted soldiers. For Boccanegra's security these were drawn fromPisa , the inveterate enemy of Genoa, where, however, Simon's brother Niccolò was "captain of the people", their mother having been a Pisan aristocrat.Boccanegra was forced to resign his office at a public meeting he had called,
December 23 ,1344 . Giovanni Valente ruled as chief magistrate, until Boccanegra regained power in 1356. Boccanegra was fatally poisoned in 1363.The poet
Petrarch wrote letters to the people of Genoa and to thedoge of Venice humanist appealing to them to end their fratricidal wars and find a common aim. These letters were among Verdi's inspirations for the revision of the opera in 1881.Simon Boccanegra's tomb in the church of San Francesco in Castelletto was decorated with a remarkable funeral sculpture, depicting him as if
lying in state with extraordinary realism in his features. This sculpture is now in the Museum of Sant'Agostino.ee also
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Boccanegra External links
* [http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Louvre/3987/Genova/genova15.htm Il primo doge: Simone Boccanegra]
* [http://www.francobampi.it/liguria/storia.htm Sources for Genoese history]
* [http://www.museosantagostino.it/sito_inglese/doc/xiv_09.htm Funeral statue from Simone Boccanegra's tomb]
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