Gabriele Adorno (1320–1383) was the fourth Doge of the Republic of Genoa, serving from March 14, 1363, to August 13, 1370. He was a member of the noble Adorno family.
Early Life
Born in Genoa around 1320 to Daniele Adorno di Lanfranco and Marietta Giustiniani, Adorno grew up in a merchant family and worked in his father's commercial branch.
Political Career
Believed to be a Ghibelline, Adorno was elected in 1350 and 1358 as a member of the Council of Elders. He collaborated with the second doge, Giovanni da Murta, in negotiations with the Grimaldi family and with Simone Boccanegra. Following Boccanegra's death, Adorno was elected doge by the assembly on March 14, 1363.
As doge, he distributed government offices between Guelph and Ghibelline factions and decreed perpetual exile for the descendants of the Boccanegra family. He dealt with turbulent relations among feudal families of the Riviera, including the Spinola, Doria, Fieschi, and Del Carretto families. He sought the support of Pope Urban V against the Visconti.
On April 18, 1365, Genoa signed a treaty with Peter I of Cyprus, opening a path for Genoese domination on the island. Genoa also increased its influence in eastern Europe with the occupation of Soldaia in Crimea. Adorno signed commercial treaties with the Aragonese in 1366 and with King Ferdinand I of Portugal in 1367.
Despite his efforts, dissatisfaction among the population grew, particularly regarding taxes. He obtained the title of imperial vicar in 1368 from Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in an unsuccessful attempt to increase his popularity. His opponent Domenico di Campofregoso, whom Adorno had appointed vicar of the people, incited the crowd against him at a public assembly. Adorno was forced to flee on August 13, 1370, and Campofregoso was elected doge the same day.
Adorno was subsequently arrested and confined at the castle of Voltaggio. He was released through the intervention of Cardinal Stefano Teobaldeschi. He died in Genoa in 1383.
Marriage and Issue
He married Violante di Giustiniani Garibaldi in 1347. Their children included:
- Agostino, councilor and elder
- Giovanni, podestà of Gavi (1369), Ventimiglia (1384), and Monaco (1386), and castellan of Caffa in Crimea
- Margherita, married Pietro Recanello
- Luigia, married Luchino Novello di Luchino Visconti
In the Arts
Gabriele Adorno appears as a character in Giuseppe Verdi's opera Simon Boccanegra, where he is the tenor lead and the love interest of Boccanegra's daughter. In the opera, Boccanegra names Adorno his successor before dying.
