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Second Genoese–Savoyard War
The Second Genoese–Savoyard War (1672–1673) was a short war fought between the Duchy of Savoy and the Republic of Genoa. The war was launched by Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy, in 1672,[1] but an exiled Genoese named Rafaello della Torre had initially prompted Charles Emmanuel into declaring war.[2] Charles Emmanuel believed that Spain, engaged in hostilities with France in the Franco-Dutch War, would not assist Genoa.[3] Charles Emmanuel's declaration of war was based on pretexts that were “slight and trivial,”[2] and it was evident that his reasons for going to war were to gain the seaport of Savona.[2] The Savoyards initially had the upper hand, as the attack on Genoa was unexpected,[4] and the Savoyards occupied Pieve di Teco “and some other Places; but these were soon recovered.”[4]  Despite Charles Emmanuel's predictions, the Genoese did receive aid from Spain.[3] The Savoyards under the Marquis of Catalan[4] marched to Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena with plans to fortify it.[2] The Genoese opposed them with a force of 9,000 men and seized all the roads, before the Savoyards could provision themselves.[2] As a result, about 300 Savoyard officers and men departed from Castelvecchio.[2] The remaining forces were overrun on August 15, 1672, by the Genoese.[2] Some inconclusive battles followed,[4] including a struggle for control of Oneglia.[2] The Genoese advanced towards Oneglia with plans to attack by sea and land, but the Savoyards prevented them.[2] End of war and aftermathLouis XIV of France intervened diplomatically in the war to protect French interests.[3] Louis XIV wanted to end the war between Savoy and Genoa before Charles Emmanuel could be completely defeated and a new front of the Franco-Dutch War could be opened in Italy.[3] Under the mediation of France,[4] peace was concluded at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye[2] on January 18, 1673.[5] Both sides returned whatever conquests that they had made.[4] According to George Procter, the war “scarcely merits our notice, for its circumstances and its conclusion were alike insignificant.”[6] However, the war had deleterious effects on the Duchy of Savoy. Since the war ended in defeat for Savoy, “a bitter search for scapegoats followed,” including Marchese di Pianezza, who had a prominent role in this war and was the duke's chief advisor.[7] Pianezza was accused of treason and fled to France.[7] Savoy's 1672 war with Genoa also caused civil unrest: it had disrupted trade and resulted in the Savoyard government's program to levy tolls on goods entering the territory of Mondovì.[7] In 1684, French naval forces would bombard Genoa for its support of Spain. See alsoReferences
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