Nicolò Guarco

Nicolò Guarco (c. 1325–c. 1385) was a Genoese Ghibelline, the son of a merchant, who climbed through embassies and offices and governed Famagusta for Genoa. In June 1378 a popular rising drove out Doge Domenico Fregoso. Antoniotto Adorno had himself proclaimed doge but gave up the title the same evening, and Guarco was elected.

He banished the Fregoso and on 22 September 1378 readmitted the exiled noble houses to public office, a power-sharing formula that lasted until Andrea Doria's reform of 1528. His rule was dominated by the War of Chioggia against Venice: Genoa took Chioggia in August 1379, surrendered it in June 1380, and made peace at Turin in 1381.

New taxes turned the people against him, and in April 1383 he was forced out. He died a prisoner at Lerici; two of his sons later became doges.