Boccanera. I. Simone, a nobleman of Genoa, first doge of that republic, born about 1300, poisoned in 1363. Weary of the quarrels and violence of the great noble families, Guelphic and Ghibelline, the people in 1339 made Boccanera doge by acclamation. He carried on war successfully against the Turks, Tartars, and Moors; but the Guelphic nobles, suspending their mutual animosities, combined against him and laid siege to Genoa. Compelled to treat with them, Boccanera abdicated in 1344, and lived in exile in Pisa for 12 years, when he returned and freed Genoa from Milanese domination. He was anew made doge Nov. 14, 1356, and remained such for several years, until he was poisoned in Genoa at a banquet given to the king of Cyprus. II. Gille, a Genoese sailor, brother of the preceding, died in 1373. He distinguished himself as admiral of the Castilian fleet against the Moors under Alfonso XL, defeated the king of Morocco in two naval battles, participated in 1344 in the capture of Algeciras, and was made count of Pahna. Under Henry II. of Castile he defeated the Portuguese fleet in 1371; and aided the French by achieving a brilliant victory over the English fleet sent for the relief of La Rochelle in 1372, capturing its admiral, the earl of Pembroke.