THE FIESCHI TALE

The Fieschi were an important Genoese family, the most significant heirs of the complex progeny of the Conti of Lavagna. The origins of the family (close to both France and Guelph party) date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. 

The "Basilica dei Fieschi"

Brief history of the Fieschi household

The Conti of Lavagna dominated theirs possession with authority, fighting strenuously against the Republic of Genoa. Despite that, they were granted only the county they had taken the name from. They featured among the four leading families of the time, also known as the dominants of Liguria (the Conti of Ventimiglia, the Marchesi del Carretto in the west, the Conti of Lavagna and the Marchesi Malaspina in the east). These families shared common origins, dominions and blood ties - the noble "lineage" of Burgundy or Germany. 

In 1243 Sinibaldo Fieschi became pope Innocenzo IV and led his family against emperor Federico II and the Ghibellines. Alberto Fieschi (the future head of the papal army) supported the anti imperial riot of Parma, then fought Manfredi, while bishop Ottobono Fieschi (later Pope Adriano V) managed an effective policy of international relations.

Political and military events allowed the Fieschi a short season of predominance in Genoa – and hostility from the Doria and Spinola. Yet, Ghibelline reaction stroke and smashed Fliscan ambitions (Alberto Fieschi suffered exile until 1276).

Alberto and Nicola, blood brothers of Ottobono, enlarged the conflict between Genoa and Charles d’Anjou. The death of Ottobono (pope Adriano V) and the failure of Opizzo’s rebellion in 1289 caused the Fieschi to suffer exile again in 1295. 

Excluded from the dogato, introduced in Genoa in 1339, they turned for support first to the Counts of Savoia and later to France (late 14th century). These were the years when Cardinal Luca Fieschi – who supported Pope Bonifacio VIII, imprisoned in Anagni – bought the Holy Basin (where Jesus Christ cleaned His hands during the Last Supper) and donated it to the Cathedral of Genoa, San Lorenzo, in whose museum it is still preserved. 

1422 - 1425 saw the failure of uprising: in 1422 Giovanni Antonio Fieschi became one of the 8 so-called captains of freedom, but in the end was executed by doge Giano Fregoso; in 1425, the uprising against the lordship of Filippo Maria Visconti were totally unsuccessful.  

In the 15th century the Savignone line took the stage – Matteo was a leader and a strong opponent of the Sforza. This was the season of Santa Caterina Fieschi from Genoa (1447-1510) - the wife of Giuliano Adorno, who converted her existence from worldly into pious - and Tommasina Fieschi (1448-1534), Dominican nun, writer and healer of the poor. 

A Fieschi (gourmet) itinerary in Liguria

Several traces of the Fieschi saga are scattered all over Liguria, lower- Piedmont and Emilia, the remainders of a vast influence area featuring in rural and coastal communi (castles, palaces, properties...): Grondona, Cabella Ligure, Carrega Ligure, Casella, Crocefieschi, Savignone, Montoggio, Torriglia, Montebruno, Rovegno, Fontanigorda, Rezzoaglio, Santo Stefano d’Aveto, Borgo Val di Taro, Sestri Levante, Lavagna, Cogorno, Ne, Neirone, Pignone, Calice al Cornoviglio, Sesta Godano, Brugnato, Vezzano Ligure.

The list makes up a gourmet itinerary between sea and mountains, too. Creative recipes and ingredients abound: bread, focacce, bagnön d’anciöe (anchovy stew) in Riva Trigoso, croxetti, testaroli (the Graveglia valley opens up the levante), vegetable savoury pies, chestnut, cabbage and pork rinds soups, traditional rural ravioli, niche salumi, game, snails, mushrooms, trouts, wild and aromatic herbs, cheese (mainly from the Aveto valley), cakes, petit fours (canestrelletti from Torriglia…), honey e.g. from Calice al Cornoviglio) rose-based products (Valle Scrivia), vegetables, pulses, ancient apple cultivars, craft beers, EVO (from Ne to the Tigullio), liqueurs (Cogorno)… 

The downfall of the Fieschi

The end of the Fieschi epic was marked by the conspiracy of January 2nd and 3rd 1547 and by disastrous organization on the part of 25-year old Gian Luigi the Young, who aimed at the killing of admiral Andrea Doria (who survived) and relatives. The sudden death of Gian Luigi, drowned in the attempt to attack the ships and the dock of the Doria closed the scene. The conspiracy was agiographically described by F. Schiller’s (1782-1783) Die Vorschwoerung des Fiesko zu Genua. The Doria reacted rapidly, with the siege and the conquest of the Fieschi castle in Montoggio – its tumbledown remains are still visible. This put an end to all the ambitions of the Fieschi. Among the besieged, fighters from all the Fliscan territories: Pontremoli, Varese Ligure, Garbagna, Varzi… Some of them died with Girolamo Fieschi, beheaded on July 12th shortly after the conquest of the castle by Genoese captain Sebastiano Lercari.

My English abstract of the article by Umberto Curti as published on Liguria Food

Luisa Puppo

This is the fascinating world of tastes and crafts that LiguriabyLuisa discloses to foreign markets and buyers (tour operators, travel agencies, organizations, associations, food&wine dealers and import/export professionals....).

Would you like to know more? Contact me and detail your queries.