Guarco

The Guarco were a Ghibelline noble family of Genoa, probably originating at Gavi and settled from the twelfth century at Cesino, where watermills and ironworks made them one of the city's richest houses. Their only member to reach the dogeship was Nicolò Guarco, born around 1325 as the son of a merchant.

After embassies to France in 1351 and Portugal in 1371, the popolani leaders made him the seventh doge in 1378. He led Genoa through the War of Chioggia against Venice: Genoese and allied troops took Chioggia in August 1379, but the garrison surrendered in June 1380.

The defeat weakened his rule, and in 1383 Antoniotto Adorno drove him from office. He fled to Finale, was handed back to the Genoese in 1384, and died a prisoner in the castle of Lerici around 1385.