DORIA, one of the most powerful
families of Genoa, became distinguished
about the beginning of the 12th century, and shared with three other leading families, the Fieschi, Grimaldi, and Spinola, the early government of the republic. Among the older heroes of this family are , who in 1284 commanded the Genoese fleet, which at Meloria annihilated the power of Pisa; , who in 1298 defeated the Venetian Dandolo at the naval battle of Curzola; , who in the middle of the 14th century distinguished himself by great victories over the
But the greatest name of the
Dorias is that of , born in
Oneglia in 1468, of a younger branch of the
family. After serving some time as a
condottiere with the princes of southern
Italy, he was intrusted by the Genoese
with the reconstruction of their fleet. Disagreement with the Genoese factions drove him to take service with Francis I., of France, in which he highly distinguished himself, and in 1527 he took Genoa in the name of the French king. But being displeased with the projects of Francis for reducing Genoa to a place of secondary importance he went over to the service of Charles V. (1529), carrying with him the whole influence and resources of Genoa. He re-established order in Genoa, reorganized the government, and though refusing the title of doge practically controlled its affairs to the end of his life. As imperial admiral he performed many services for Charles, clearing the seas of Moorish pirates and assisting the emperor in his expeditions to Tunis and Algiers. In 1547 his authority was threatened by the conspiracy of Fieschi, and he narrowly escaped assassination in the tumult. He died in 1560.
