<b>Genoa (-200-1528)<b>

Genoa is a very old city, and traces its origins to the ancient world. As a Roman city, however, it had never been particularly powerful, and it would only be after 1100 that she would rise as a major power in the Mediterranean. As Genoa lay within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire, the city was subject to the Emperor, but the city also had a Bishop, who was more actively involved in its politics. Real power in Genoa, however, lay with the Consuls, who were elected annually by popular assembly.

Like Venice, Pisa, and Amalfi, Genoa was one of the Maritime Republics. These vied for power over trade in the Mediterranean, a struggle that sometimes turned into all-out open war. Genoa did well, and its pillars of strength were trade, shipbuilding, banking and highly trained mercenaries. This in turn fuelled further economic expansion, and the Republic of Genoa soon extended over modern Liguria, Piedmont, Sardinia, and Corsica and had all but monopolised the Tyrrhenian Sea.
During the Crusades, Genoa expanded to the east, founding colonies in the Middle East, Northern Africa and on Chios and Lesbos, in the Aegean. This brought more than just earthly riches, as a green glass goblet was brought back from the Levant, supposedly the Holy Grail. 

Within the city faction-fights were ever present, with the three major families of Doria, Grimaldi and Spinola fighting for control. This brought disruption and sometimes even battle within the city walls, but things settled down a bit when the Grimaldis left Genoa in the 14th century and conquered the city of Monaco. From here they built their own small realm, culturally very similar to their old city, as they brought in many of their supporters. During the Hundred Years War the Grimaldis were active participants in the Hundred Years War, appearing on the field many a time to support the French - for hard cash, of course.

The Crusades were eventually unsuccessful, and the Genoese lost control of Lesbos and Chios. But they allied themselves with the Byzantine Empire, which opened up a whole new market. Genoese colonies quickly sprung up in Caffa and Tana, on the Crimean. By 1294 Genoa's power was paramount, having beaten Pisa and particularly its chief rival Venice in open war. But things could only get worse, and in 1349 Genoese fleeing from the besieged port of Caffa brought the Plague to Europe. This spread quickly and brought economic misery as well as reducing the population. There was less demand for mercenaries, whereas banking was periodically on the decline as well, several bankers having gone bankrupt.

War did continue with Venice (1378-1381), but this time it brought Genoa defeat. The city became a French satellite for a short period (1394-1409), and was then subjected to the Visconti of Milan. The Kingdom of Aragon then took Sardinia, Corsica was lost after a rebellion, and whatever it had left in the east the Ottomans conquered. In 1528, Genoa was made a satellite of Spain.
