Genoa - What connections?

[le pendu]

I want to start this thread by saying I know almost nothing about Genoa. I had never connected it to Tarot or given it any consideration at all. Recently, I read a book about the Black Death, and it emphasized the importance of Genoa during the mid-1300s.

Wow! Genoa was almost entirely responsible for the creation of a new, vitally important port in the Black Sea called Caffa. This trade with Caffa brought goods from Constantinople, China, and India to the European world!

Genoa was competing heavily with Venice for the domination of the sea. Genoa was famous for its ships and connections to the East. (and probably to blame for bringing the Plague from Caffa to Europe)

Genoa was a part of France from 1394-1409.

Genoa was ruled by Filippo Maria Visconti from 1458-1461.

Genoa was a major trading port, with strong connections to Marseille, France.

When comparing TdM cards, strangely Genoa seems to have often/sometimes retained the TdM I pattern while others moved to TdM II pattern. When looking at LATE decks like the Giuseppe Drago, I wonder why Genoa retained these old designs?
http://trionfi.com/01/j/i/gambler_ru/d02059.htm

Are there other connections between Tarot and Genoa?

Any help understanding this place and time would be greatly appreciated.

best,
robert

 

[Huck]

Genoa was ruled by Filippo Maria Visconti from 1458-1461.

... Completely wrong. Filippo was dead then.

Filippo Maria Visconti reigned there from 1421-1435, as far I know. Since 1464/1465 reigned Francesco Sforza there (as ruler from Milan in dependency from Louis XI.), later Galeazzo Maria some time. Before there were fights and a great battle in 1461, when Rene d'Anjou lost an army there.

 

[le pendu]

Thanks for the correction on that one Huck.

I took this information from New Advent:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06419a.htm
"During the fifteenth century, Genoa constantly called on outsiders to rule her, but as constantly rebelled against their rule (1396-1409, France; 1409-1413, Teodoro II Paleologo di Monferrato; 1422-1435, Filippo Maria Visconti; 1458-1461, France; 1464-1478, 1487-1499, the Sforza of Milan; 1499-1512, 1515-1522, France)."

and based on the mention in Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa
"After a period of French domination from 1394-1409, Genoa came under rule by the Visconti of Milan."

Edit: I misread the dates.. damn commas and semicolons. Hee hee.

best,
robert

 

[Ross G Caldwell]

Are there other connections between Tarot and Genoa?

Any help understanding this place and time would be greatly appreciated.

Genoa is known as the last place where Minchiate was played, in the 1930s. John McLeod is reportedly trying to revive the game - perhaps there will be a game played at the IPCS conference.

I think there are 15th century references to cards there; and I seem to recall one about triumphs - but I'll have to give some thought to where I saw it.

 

[Ross G Caldwell]

I took this information from New Advent:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06419a.htm
"... 1422-1435, Filippo Maria Visconti;"

I think it is actually 1421, but either way, those are the dates for FMV ruling Genoa.

His next "big" catch would be Bologna, in 1438 (1438-1443).

Ross