The Conspiracy of Gianluigi Fieschi, or, Genoa in the sixteenth century.
CHAPTER I.
THE COUNTS OF LAVAGNA.
The Valley of Entella and Lavagna--The Origin of the Counts of Fieschi--Their Conflicts with the Commune of Genoa--The Treaty of Peace between the Fieschi and Genoa--Civil Contentions--The Riches and Power of the Counts Fieschi--Innocent IV. and Hadrian V.--Cardinal Gianluigi Fieschi--The Fieschi Bishops and Lords of Vercelli and Biella--Famous Fieschi Warriors--Isabella, wife of Lucchino Visconti--St. Catherine--The Arms of the Family--Liberality and munificence of the Fieschi--Gianluigi II.--Sinibaldo, lord of thirty-three walled castles.