History

The independent Ligurian people occupied Ligurias isolated coastline as early as 5th century BC. It wasn't until the 3rd century BC that the Romans occupied the Ligurian region although some areas like Cinque Terre were never really conquered by Rome.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines who named the region Provincia Maritima Italorum then ruled it. Then by the 7th century AD the Lombards followed by the Franks had control over the region.

During the middle ages, the city of Genoa soon had control over the entire region and became a powerful maritime republic with powers rivaled by Pisa and Venice. Sometimes, wars were fought over its main rival Venice over sea trade. It was during these wars that Marco Polo was captured and dictated his adventures while in a Genoese prison.

Napoleon Bonaparte then conquered the region in 1796. This became the end of the powerful maritime republic of Genoa. Following Napoleons defeat Liguria was then given to the House of Savoy and Sardinia, one of the many kingdoms in the area that would soon form a unified Italy.

Because of the loss of independence of the Ligurians, patriots like Garibaldi soon formed the Italian Risorgimento with their goal of a modern nation of Italy being achieved.