DOR 



50 



DOR 



particularly of salni-ri. Tin- position of Dordrecht, 

 according to trigonometrical obavratiofu, U IP 

 Loni. ..id North l.:.t. .'.I is' .'..". (j) 



of the most celebrated naval 



commanders in the 1'ith century, wns ix>m at ( 

 A. 1>. \Mt6. Descended from one of the noblest fami- 

 lies in that city, he soon rose to the highest <>'!icr~ in 

 the service of his country ; and commando: 1 the Ge- 

 noee fleet for several years before the republic fell un- 

 der the power of l-'r.im-i* I. in 152'2. From this period 

 he directed the naval operations of the French monarch 

 with great success ; and particularly gained a complete 

 victory over the Spanish fleet under Moncada, on the 

 coast of Naples, in the year 1.528. In this situation, 

 however, his independent spirit, as the citi/.en of a re- 

 public, and his unceremonious manners as a seaman, 

 gave frequent umbrage to the French courtiers, who 

 employed every artifice to render him obnoxious to 

 their king. When the French began to fortify Savona, 

 with an evident intention to render it the commercial 

 rival of Genoa, the patriotic Doria remonstrated in the 

 highest tone against the measure, and even made an 

 offer of 9OO.CKO crowns, in order to secure the privi- 

 leges of his native city. His conduct having been re- 

 presented at court in the most aggravated point of 

 view, the French monarch was irritated to such a de- 

 gree, that he commanded his Admiral Barbesieux to 

 sail directly to Genoa, to apprehend Doria, and take 

 possession of his gallies. Doria, having received time- 

 ly intelligence of this order, retired with his fleet to a 

 place of safety ; and in the height of his indignation, 

 having sent back his commission with the order of St 

 Michael to Francis, he entered the service of the Em- 

 peror Charles V. To deliver his country from a foreign 

 yoke was his principal inducement in taking this step, 

 and the object of his highest ambition. Having learned 

 that the French garrison which held the Genoese in 

 subjection, was much reduced by the pestilence, and 

 that his countrymen were ready to second his measures, 

 he landed a small body of men during the night, who 

 surprised one of the principal gates, and gained posses- 

 sion of the city without opposition or bloodshed. Aid- 

 ed by the fame of his exploits, the support of the em- 

 peror, and the gratitude of his countrymen, he might, 

 without much difficulty, have rendered himself the sove- 

 reign of Genoa ; but, sacrificing all views of his own 

 aggrandizement, and claiming no pre-eminence or power 

 above his equals, he remitted the settlement of the state 

 to an assembly of the citizens ; and the ancient form of 

 the republic was re-established with universal approba- 

 tion. In the following year, the Emperor, having land* 

 ed at Genoa on his way to Italy, honoured him with 

 many marks of distinction, and always had recourse to 

 his abilities in every naval operation of any importance. 

 Having been ordered, alxmt this time, to chastise the 

 insolence of Barbarossa, whose corsairs had committed 

 depredations upon the imperial flag, he attacked a jwrt 

 of the piratical fleet in the port of Sorgee, drove the 

 crews ashore, and brought out nine of their gallies. In 

 1532, he gained repeated successes over tin- 'I 'urki-ii 

 fleet, and reduced their principal forts in the Morea. 

 In 1535, he acted as high admiral of the fleet in the fa- 

 mous expedition to Africa, which was conducted by the 

 emperor in person, and which so successfully broke the 

 power of the pirate Barbarossn. In 1541, he again 

 conveyed the emperor to tlie African coast, after ha- 

 ving in vain represented to him the dangers of such a 

 voyage at the season when it was attempted, and having 

 faithfully predicted, as wai so fatally verified, the una- 



\oidiblp destruction of the whole armament. But 

 amid-t all his expeditions, lie watched incessantly, like * 

 a tutelary divini: Mare <>t' Genoa, and even 



when remould to a . u. by liis vigilance 



and foresight, the means of pre>erving the liberty which 

 he had c-t i!ili-hed. Beloved and respected by his 

 countrymen, he continued to possess a powerful influ- 

 ence over the councils of the republic ; and, while he 

 adhered to his purpose of living as a private citizen, yet 

 from the veneration which he acquired by his virtues, he 

 felt himself in a manner invested with all the authority 

 of a sovereign. While all admired his talents, and re- 

 spected his disinterested conduct, there were a few who 

 viewed with jealousy his ascendancy in the common- 

 wealth. They had indeed ample security in his age, 

 his moderation, and his love of liberty, that he would 

 never abuse his power, or injure that free constitution, 

 which it had been the chief glory of his life to esta- 

 blish ; but they had begun to recognize a formidable 

 enemy to their liberties in his grand-nephew Gianneti- 

 nii. whonr he had adopted as the heir of his private 

 fortune, whose gratification and aggrandizement he in- 

 dulged without bounds, and who gave daily proofs, by 

 his haughty and overbearing manners, that he aimed 

 also at succeeding his uncle in authority and power. 

 Of these apprehensions and murmurings, John Lewis 

 Fiesco, Count of Lavagna, took advantage in his ambi- 

 tious schemes, and formed one of the most daring con- 

 spiracies recorded in history against the life of Doria, 

 and the liberty of his country. One of the most illus- 

 trious subjects of the republic, and possessed of qualifi- 

 cations to attract the respect and affections of his fellow- 

 citizens, he found means to collect a number of bold 

 adherents, to whom he intrusted his plot, and to secure 

 a multitude of friends, who, though ignorant of his de- 

 signs, would be ready to support him in power. His 

 object was to assassinate the two Dorias, with the prin- 

 cipal persons of their party, and, abolishing the repub- 

 lican form of government, to proclaim himself Duke of 

 Genoa. By appearing entirely devoted to a life of dissi- 

 pation, and by paying the most respectful attentions to 

 Doria and his nephew, lie completely disguised his de- 

 signs, till they were fully ripe for execution. On the 

 night between the second and third day of January 

 154-7, during the interval between the demission of the 

 doge of the former year and the election of his succes- 

 sor, the conspirators rushed forth to get possession of 

 the gates, to seize the gallies in the harbour, and to at- 

 tack the palace of Doria. Giannetino, awakened by 

 the noise of the tumults, and imagining it to be occa- 

 sioned by some mutiny among the sailors, hurried with 

 a few attendants towards the harbour ; but, falling in 

 with a party of the insurgents in his way, he was besot 

 and murdered on the spot. His uncle, in the mean 

 time, having received intelligence of this event, and of 

 the danger which threatened his own person, instantly 

 mounted on horseback, and saved himself by flight. 

 But Fiesco, in the midvt of his success, while passing 

 hastily by means of a plank from the shore to one of 

 the gullies, fell into the sea, and sinking to the bottom 

 by the weight of his armour, perished in the moment 

 of triumph. In his death, the cause of the conspirators 

 received its mortal blow ; und the whole body, having 

 lost (be spirit by which it was animated, was almost in- 

 stantaneously dismembered and dispersed. < >n the fol- 

 lowing morning the city of Genoa was freed from eve- 

 IT vestige of an enemy, and Doriit, returning to his re- 

 sidence in the evening, was received by the inhabitants 

 with acclamations of joy. He conducted himself with 



TVt! .. 



