Leonardo Montaldo

Who was Leonardo Montaldo?

Leonardo Montaldo or di Montaldo, politician and statesman who became the 7th doge of the Republic of Genoa.

Leonardo was born in San Martino di Paravanico, near modern-day Ceranesi in the Polcevera valley. His family was from Gavi. Little is known of his life before the dogate. He was elected by a commission despite the fact that a large share of the population supported Antoniotto Adorno. According to some sources, Montaldo had accepted to rule the Republic only for six months.

Once in office, like his predecessors, Montaldo tried to reorganize the Republic and in particular the fiscal system. But on June 11, 1384 it become clear that he had contracted the plague during an outbreak in the city and he died in Genoa three days later. In the morrow, Antoniotto Adorno was elected doge.