Boccanegra

The surname Boccanegra (Italian) or Bocanegra (Spanish) originated in northern Italy during the 13th century.

For other uses, see Boccanegra (disambiguation).

History

The Boccanegra family rose to power in Genoa. Guglielmo Boccanegra was "Captain of the People" and virtual dictator in 1257–1262, and his nephew Simone Boccanegra, who died 1363, was the first Doge of Genoa. Boccanegra was forced to resign his office at a public meeting he had called in December 1344. Giovanni Valente ruled as chief magistrate, until Boccanegra regained power in 1356. Boccanegra was fatally poisoned in 1363. Simon Boccanegra is an opera by Giuseppe Verdi, which depicts his life.

Simone's brother Egidio Boccanegra led the Genoese fleet in the Battle of Sluys, while Egidio's son Ambrosio Boccanegra was an admiral in Castilian employ.

References
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