The history of the Spinola family is closely linked to the history of Genoa. Ancient city of the Ligurians (Ligures), Genoa was flourishing in Roman times before going through a period of relative darkness. In the eleventh century, the development of maritime trade led Genoa to establish itself as a free municipality governed by a spontaneous aggregation of citizens (the "Companion") that provided arms, capital or work to the community. This generated a ruling class of both aristocratic and feudal and mercantile origin.
In the eleventh century, Genoa had now become a powerful and rich Maritime Republic able to rival Pisa and Venice. His participation in the first Crusade in 1097 and 1100 earned him considerable commercial privileges and possessions in the new Crusader States of the Near East. With the strengthening of the "Compagna", the city center was divided into eight districts and the palaces decorated with porticoes to better delimit each area. The districts were under the protection of the dominant families, among which were the Doria, the Spinola, the Fieschi, the Grimaldi. It was a period also characterized by the continuous political struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
In 1270, the nobles Oberto Doria and Oberto Spinola, representatives of the most important Ghibelline families, were named Capitani del Popolo and in fact governors of the city. During this period, the Genoese gained great and famous victories in the naval battles against the Pisani (battle of Meloria, 1284) and the Venetians (battle of Korcula, 1298). Despite the internal struggles, Genoa carried out an intense and profitable commercial activity which benefited both the ruling families and the general population. The executive power was entrusted to the Consuls, elected by popular assemblies.
During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Genoa played a primary role as a commercial and maritime power. Trade by sea was the main activity, while the development of the banking and shipbuilding sectors was witnessed. The Republic extended its influence to the whole of Liguria, a large part of Corsica and northern Sardinia, and founded, thanks to its participation in the Crusades, commercial colonies along the entire Mediterranean coast.
The political structure of the Republic underwent an evolution and, in 1339, the first Doge was elected to govern the city with the support of several aristocratic families. Initially, the Doges were elected for life. After a period of Milan, French and Spanish invasions, and Genoa was forced to cede many of its overseas possessions, the new Constitution of 1528 entrusted the government to a two-year-old Doge. In 1596 Father Carlo Spinola went to Japan as a missionary.
At the time of the reform implemented by Andrea Doria, the Spinola became one of the 28 hotels of the Republic of Genoa to which other families were officially invited to join. Between 1528 and 1797 there were many Spinolas among the Doges and cardinals of the Holy Roman Empire. Genoa entered the orbit of Spain and this allowed its commercial expansion in the Spanish possessions of the New World. The Genoese became the bankers of the Spanish monarchy. In 1625, Ambrogio Spinola, at the service of the Spanish Crown, arrived at the height of his military career with the taking of the city of Breda. The surrender of this city was immortalized in a famous painting by Velasquez.
The economic recovery of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries determines the arrival in Genoa of many important artists including Rubens and Van Dyck (see portraits of the Spinola) and the affirmation of the Genoese baroque style (see Church of San Luca). The decay of Spanish power resulted in the decline of the main families. In 1768, Genoa had to give up Corsica to Corsica, the last of its possessions. In 1797, the French military pressure caused the disintegration of the aristocratic power and the establishment of the Ligurian Republic. In 1806, Massimiliano Spinola published the first of his important entomology treatises. In the 18th century, the Spinola Noble Family Foundation was founded to provide help to the poor in the area of the parish of San Luca, the historic quarter of the Spinola family residences.
In 1805, the Ligurian Republic was annexed to the French Empire. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815 it passed under the House of Savoy and in 1861 it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.