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Marquisate of Finale Marchesato di Finale (Italian)
967–1797
Flag Coat of arms
Marquisate of Finale in Liguria.
Status	March of theHoly Roman Empire (967–1602) Territory of theKingdom of Spain (1602–1713) Territory of theRepublic of Genoa (1713–1797)
Capital	Finale Ligure (from the 1190s)
Common languages	Ligurian
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Government	Absolute monarchy (Marquess)
Marquess
History
• Established	967
• Acquired by theKingdom of Spain	1602
• Ceded to theRepublic of Genoa	1713
• Disestablished	1797
Preceded by Succeeded by March of Savona Ligurian Republic Kingdom of Spain

TheMarquisate of Finale was an Italian state of theHoly Roman Empire in what is nowLiguria, part of the former medievalAleramici March. It was ruled for some six centuries by the Aleramici branch known as marquesses del Vasto (when they also held the March of Savona) and later Del Carretto, when Savona became afree commune. In 1598 the marquisate was sold by its last marquis, Sforza Andrea toPhilip II of Spain and in 1713 it was finally ceded to theRepublic of Genoa, where it remained so until 1797, when it was invaded byNapoleon, ceasing its existence.

The marquisate of Finale originated from the territories donated in 967 toAleramo of Montferrat by EmperorOtto I and was for centuries a fief of theHoly Roman Empire. Anselmo, son of Aleramo, started the line of the marquesses of Savona or Del Vasto. His descendantBoniface del Vasto acquired large lands in Liguria and southernPiedmont. In 1142-1148 his sons divided its patrimony, creating different feudal dynasties. Enrico I del Carretto inherited the march of Savona, receiving its investiture by EmperorFrederick Barbarossa on 10 June 1162.

The march of Savona stretched on the Ligurian coast fromCogoleto andFinale Ligure up to theBormida valley, nearly reachingAcqui. Enrico later also acquiredCortemilia andNovello; the family also boasted rights on thediocese of Albenga and the former marquisate of Clavesana. His control over his lands was however rather nominal, due to the increasing autonomy of cities such as Savona,Noli,Alba andAlessandria from the 12th century. The first member of the family to use the title of Marquis ofFinale (a village which the family had fortified since around 1193) was Enrico's son, Enrico II Del Carretto. The name "Del Carretto" derived from a small castle on the Bormida river.

Enrico I, Enrico II and his son Giacomo wereGhibellines (pro-imperial): Giacomo married an illegitimate daughter ofFrederick II, Caterina da Marano. After his death in 1265, the family's lands were divided between his three sons. One of them, that of Finale, remained independent for three centuries, before it was absorbed by theKingdom of Spain in 1602. The other two wereMillesimo, whose lords later submitted to theMarquisate of Montferrat, and that ofNovello, Piedmont. Although their sovereignty had obtained imperial approval, the Del Carretto had to fight for much of their history against the expansion of theRepublic of Genoa. In 1385 Genoa obtained the feudal submission of half of the marquisate's lands.

In the 15th century the marquesses remained substantially autonomous, thanks to the support of theVisconti and later theSforza ofMilan. During theAmbrosian Republic, Genoa attacked Finale in a war which lasted from 1447 to 1448, and which ended with the fire of Finalborgo and the complete submission of the marquisate to Genoa. In 1450, however, Giovanni I del Carretto was able to reconquer his capital. Finale remained independent in the 16th century, in which it was a loyal ally of admiralAndrea Doria. Genoa invaded its lands again in 1558, taking advantage of the protests of part of the population due to the economic difficulties caused by the Franco-Spanish war and the harsh government of Alfonso II Del Carretto. After a short return of the marquis, there was another revolt, encouraged by Spain, which wanted to gain control of the only Ligurian port not under the Republic of Genoa. In 1598 the last marquis, Sforza Andrea, sold Finale toPhilip II of Spain; the agreement became effective after Sforza Andrea's death in 1602.^[1]

At the end of theWar of the Spanish Succession, the Marquisate of Finale was ceded to theRepublic of Genoa on 20 August 1713, although it kept its statutes until theFrench Napoleonic invasion in 1797.

44°10′N8°19′E / 44.167°N 8.317°E /44.167; 8.317

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