CHAPTER XV.

Genoa-Early History-Effect of the Crusades on the rising Republic-Petty Wars with Pisa-War with the VenetiansConstantinople taken by the Turks-Serious Loss to Genoa from this circumstance-Rapid Decline in Power-Final Union with Sardinia under the Crown of the latter.

THE career of the third Italian maritime republic, the features of whose history we are now about to sketch, displays many points in common with the other two; for, existing at the same period, a natural jealousy, as we have more than once had occasion to observe, often brought them into contact with each other, and made them seek their own aggrandisement at the price of their rivals' destruction.

From the beauty of its situation, Genoa had been a favourite spot at a very remote period; and to this, probably, may in part be owing the varied character of its early fortunes. Under the dominion of Rome we find it a considerable city, when that great republic was engaged in her second war with Carthage, and the assistance which was rendered by the Genoese brought upon their capital the vengeance of Mago, the Carthaginian general, who, in the course of the war, took and destroyed it. It was rebuilt with additional splendour

Renewed Quarrels.

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by order of the Roman Senate two years afterwards, and remained faithful to its allegiance till the overthrow of the mighty empire. It became successively the prey of the Goths and Lombards; it was annexed by Charlemagne to his extensive dominions; it was presented by Pepin to a French seigneur named Adhesnar, with the title of Count, whose descendants retained possession of it till the end of the eleventh century, when the Genoese revolted, proclaimed themselves free, and electing magistrates from among their nobles, resolved to turn their attention to the improvement of their trade. Scarcely, however, had they begun to taste the blessings of freedom, than the city was attacked by a party of those marauding Saracens who so troubled the repose of the early days of Pisa; after a stout resistance, the male inhabitants were put to the sword, and the women and young children sent into Africa as slaves. A few years later we find Genoa again flourishing, and its citizens eager to obtain some of those advantages which had already made Venice a name of renown.

In our account of Pisa, we alluded to the attack on Sardinia in 1017, by the citizens of that republic and those of Genoa, instigated thereto by Pope Benedict VIII., who saw with alarm the inroads made into the Christian dominions by the infidel Saracens, who at that time held the island. The jealousy felt by the Genoese at the favours heaped upon their companions-inarms, was destined to be of fatal consequence to both the republics, as on the many occasions where they were called upon to act in concert, this feeling led them almost invariably to disputes and even blows. The vanity of the Genoese, wounded at seeing the title of Mistress of

Sardinia bestowed upon Pisa, was soothed by the possession of rich booty which fell into their hands some three years afterwards for their services in resisting an attack of the barbarians, who made a descent upon the island with the hope of again recovering it from the Christian force.

The Crusades which stirred all Christendom, and awoke a spirit of enterprise in the most obscure hamlet, contributed, more than any other circumstance, to consolidate the power of the Italian maritime republics. The large armies, after traversing the continent of Europe, were compelled to make use of the Italian vessels to convey them to their destination on the Asiatic shores, and even when arrived there, were still obliged to avail themselves of their assistance for the transport of arms and provisions for their use. This service, which is at all times a lucrative one, was particularly so at this period. The Italian nations had the business in their own hands; the parties who engaged in it were not only merchants anxious to increase their stores of wealth, but were moved by such intense jealousy of each other, that they exacted, as the price of their assistance, such advantages as might enable them to pursue their commerce under more favourable auspices than their rivals. To this end, on the reduction of any place wherein experience taught them a favourable standing might be made, they obtained from the Crusaders immunities of various kinds; freedom of trade, abolition or abatement of duties on their import and export goods, the property of whole suburbs in some of the cities, and of streets in others; besides a variety of other advantages which could not fail to produce the effect we notice, viz., the

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rapid rise of the commercial states of Italy at this period of their career.

It has been related how the Genoese promised their assistance in the reduction of the Balearic Isles, and how they abstained from joining in the expedition out of illwill towards the Pisans; this feeling was not diminishec on the return of the latter flushed with triumph, and ambitious of displaying the increase of influence which their important services in this affair had fully entitled them to possess. War soon broke out between them, and was maintained with various fortune, each often claiming a victory which neither was disposed to allow, the piratical skirmishing, for it cannot be dignified with a higher name, lasted for several years, and the issue appears to have been rather in favour of the Genoese, as it was their rivals who sought for peace.

A few years later, we find them again engaged in hostilities. Being induced by the Emperor Henry VI. to act with him in reconquering Naples and Sicily from the usurpation of the family of Tancredi, Count of Lecce, disputes soon arose between the maritime powers, who, it would seem, could never be brought to act in harmony. Although the progress of their arms was at first successful, disorder soon followed; and after the return of the emperor, they came to blows for the possession of Syracuse, which the Genoese, in concert with Arrigo, Count of Malta, succeeded in finally obtaining.

The defeat which the Genoese experienced at the hands of their rivals we have described in the history of Pisa, when attacked off the Meloria, on their way to Rome; we have also related how often their coasts were

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threatened by the Pisans, in conjunction with the imperial fleet; but events soon afterwards occurred which not only enabled Genoa to assume a different position towards the rival republic, but to attain. the very first rank among commercial nations.

The Genoese, sensible of the advantages which the Venetians derived from their superior position in the East, acquired, as described, on the taking of Constantinople, used every effort to obtain a share in them; and an opportunity was soon presented, which they embraced with eagerness, although at the sacrifice of the strongest prejudices of the age. The Greeks, who had long viewed with indignation the presence of the Latins in Byzantium, proposed to the Genoese to lend. their aid to the re-establishment of the former dynasty. Although the reigning monarch was supported by the Pope, to whose authority the Genoese equally owed allegiance, and the men, with whom they were to act, were held in abhorrence by the religion they themselves professed, maritime jealousy and the hope of commercial gain overcame every other consideration; and bold and even impious as the undertaking was deemed, it proved entirely successful: the Venetians evacuated the place with great loss, and their rivals succeeded to the advantages the former were compelled to relinquish. As a reward for their services, they were presented by the Greek emperor with the chief suburb of Constantinople called Pera, to be held as a fief of the empire; they were enriched with other donations, and were exempted from the accustomed duties on their goods, so that they at once acquired a decided superiority over every competitor in that trade, which had always given opulence