Second Genoese-Savoyard War
Encyclopedia
The Second Genoese-Savoyard War (1672-1673) was a short war fought between the Duchy of Savoy
and the Republic of Genoa
.
The war was launched by Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy
, in 1672, but an exiled Genoese named Rafaello della Torre had initially prompted Charles Emmanuel into declaring war. Charles Emmanuel believed that Spain
, engaged in hostilities with France in the Franco-Dutch War
, would not assist Genoa. Charles Emmanuel’s declaration of war was based on pretexts that were “slight and trivial,” and it was evident that his reasons for going to war were to gain the seaport of Savona
.
The Savoyards initially had the upper hand, as the attack on Genoa was unexpected, and the Savoyards occupied Pieve di Teco
“and some other Places; but these were soon recovered.”
Despite Charles Emmanuel's predictions, the Genoese did receive aid from Spain.
The Savoyards under the Marquis of Catalan marched to Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena
with plans to fortify it. The Genoese opposed them with a force of 9,000 men and seized all the roads, before the Savoyards could provision themselves. As a result, about 300 Savoyard officers and men departed from Castelvecchio. The remaining forces were overrun on August 15, 1672 by the Genoese.
Some inconclusive battles followed, including a struggle for control of Oneglia
. The Genoese advanced towards Oneglia with plans to attack by sea and land, but the Savoyards prevented them.
intervened diplomatically in the war to protect French interests. Louis XIV wanted to end the war between Savoy and Genoa before Charles Emmanuel could be completely defeated and a new front of the Franco-Dutch War could be opened in Italy.
Under the mediation of France, peace was concluded at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
on January 18, 1673. Both sides returned whatever conquests that they had made.
According to George Procter, the war “scarcely merits our notice, for its circumstances and its conclusion were alike insignificant.” However, the war had deleterious effects on the Duchy of Savoy.
Since the war ended in defeat for Savoy, “a bitter search for scapegoats followed,” including Marchese di Pianezza, who had a prominent role in this war and was the duke's chief advisor. Pianezza was accused of treason and fled to France
.
Savoy’s 1672 war with Genoa also caused civil unrest: it had disrupted trade and resulted in the Savoyard government’s program to levy tolls on goods entering the territory of Mondovì
.
In 1684, French naval forces would bombard
Genoa for its support of Spain.
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
and the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
.
The war was launched by Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy
Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy
Charles Emmanuel II was the Duke of Savoy from 1638 to 1675 and under regency of his mother Christine Marie of France until 1663. He was also Marquis of Saluzzo, Count of Aosta, Geneva, Moriana and Nice, as well as claimant king of Cyprus and Jerusalem...
, in 1672, but an exiled Genoese named Rafaello della Torre had initially prompted Charles Emmanuel into declaring war. Charles Emmanuel believed that Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, engaged in hostilities with France in the Franco-Dutch War
Franco-Dutch War
The Franco-Dutch War, often called simply the Dutch War was a war fought by France, Sweden, the Bishopric of Münster, the Archbishopric of Cologne and England against the United Netherlands, which were later joined by the Austrian Habsburg lands, Brandenburg and Spain to form a quadruple alliance...
, would not assist Genoa. Charles Emmanuel’s declaration of war was based on pretexts that were “slight and trivial,” and it was evident that his reasons for going to war were to gain the seaport of Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
.
The Savoyards initially had the upper hand, as the attack on Genoa was unexpected, and the Savoyards occupied Pieve di Teco
Pieve di Teco
Pieve di Teco is a comune in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, located about 90 km southwest of Genoa and about 20 km northwest of Imperia...
“and some other Places; but these were soon recovered.”
Despite Charles Emmanuel's predictions, the Genoese did receive aid from Spain.
The Savoyards under the Marquis of Catalan marched to Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena
Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena
Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 70 km southwest of Genoa and about 35 km southwest of Savona....
with plans to fortify it. The Genoese opposed them with a force of 9,000 men and seized all the roads, before the Savoyards could provision themselves. As a result, about 300 Savoyard officers and men departed from Castelvecchio. The remaining forces were overrun on August 15, 1672 by the Genoese.
Some inconclusive battles followed, including a struggle for control of Oneglia
Oneglia
Oneglia was a town in northern Italy on the Ligurian coast that was joined to Porto Maurizio to form the Comune of Imperia in 1923....
. The Genoese advanced towards Oneglia with plans to attack by sea and land, but the Savoyards prevented them.
End of war and aftermath
Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
intervened diplomatically in the war to protect French interests. Louis XIV wanted to end the war between Savoy and Genoa before Charles Emmanuel could be completely defeated and a new front of the Franco-Dutch War could be opened in Italy.
Under the mediation of France, peace was concluded at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a royal palace in the commune of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in the département of Yvelines, about 19 km west of Paris, France. Today, it houses the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale ....
on January 18, 1673. Both sides returned whatever conquests that they had made.
According to George Procter, the war “scarcely merits our notice, for its circumstances and its conclusion were alike insignificant.” However, the war had deleterious effects on the Duchy of Savoy.
Since the war ended in defeat for Savoy, “a bitter search for scapegoats followed,” including Marchese di Pianezza, who had a prominent role in this war and was the duke's chief advisor. Pianezza was accused of treason and fled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Savoy’s 1672 war with Genoa also caused civil unrest: it had disrupted trade and resulted in the Savoyard government’s program to levy tolls on goods entering the territory of Mondovì
Mondovì
Mondovì is a town and comune of Piedmont, northern Italy, located c. 80 km from Turin....
.
In 1684, French naval forces would bombard
Bombardment of Genoa
The Bombardment of Genoa was a military event during the War of the Reunions when France bombarded the city of Genoa from the sea between May 18 and May 28 1684.- Background :...
Genoa for its support of Spain.