Simone Boccanegra

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For the opera by Giuseppe Verdi, see Simon Boccanegra.

Simone Boccanegra (died 1363) was the first doge of Genoa. His story was popularized by Giuseppe Verdi's opera Simon Boccanegra.

Boccanegra was elected as doge for life on September 24, 1339, as the candidate of the "popular" Ghibelline faction. Boccanegra was opposed by the aristocratic Guelf faction, representing the old mercantile patriciate, which his first actions excluded from public life. With the old patriciate excluded from power, a new class of mercantile houses arose: Adorno, Guarco, Fregoso, and Montaldo [1].

During Boccanegra's dogate, Genoese control was extended the length of both Rivieras, with the exception of the Grimaldi holdings in Monaco and Ventimiglia, and Genoese galleys went to the aid of Alfonso XI of Castile in his struggles against the Saracens.

There were constant conspiracies and attempts against Boccanegra's life from the outset. (The first conspirator's head rolled on December 20, 1339.) This led to the establishment of a bodyguard of 103 mounted soldiers. For Boccanegra's security these were drawn from Pisa, the inveterate enemy of Genoa, where, however, Simon's brother Niccolò was "captain of the people", their mother having been a Pisan aristocrat.

Boccanegra was forced to resign his office at a public meeting he had called, December 23, 1344. Giovanni Valente ruled as chief magistrate, until Boccanegra regained power in 1356. Boccanegra was fatally poisoned in 1363.

The poet Petrarch wrote letters to the people of Genoa and to the doge of Venice humanist appealing to them to end their fratricidal wars and find a common aim. These letters were among Verdi's inspirations for the revision of the opera in 1881.

Simon Boccanegra's tomb in the church of San Francesco in Castelletto was decorated with a remarkable funeral sculpture, depicting him as if lying in state with extraordinary realism in his features. This sculpture is now in the Museum of Sant'Agostino [2].