Montaldo

The Montaldo were a Genoese noble family whose origins are placed in the Oltregiogo around Gavi. The judge Paolo Montaldo raised the family's standing; its most prominent figure was his son Leonardo, born in 1319 in the Polcevera valley.

Leonardo served Genoa as consul at Caffa in 1351 and as ambassador to Castile. Two failed attempts to seize power in 1365 and 1366 sent him into exile until 1371. He led the Genoese delegation at the Peace of Turin that ended the War of Chioggia with Venice, and in April 1383 he was elected doge after the fall of Domenico Fregoso.

As doge he freed King James I of Cyprus in exchange for Genoese control of Famagusta and won popularity with fiscal reforms, but died of plague in June 1384. His son Antonio Montaldo later became doge in 1392.