The Spinola System for Maritime Postal Exchanges Between the Madrid Nunciature and the Roman Curia (1645 – 1658)

The workings of the Republic of Genoa’s postal system between the 16th and 17th centuries, and of its maritime postal system especially, are largely unexplored. Measured by the standards of Venice, Genoa lagged behind for shipment volumes, speed, and their security and secrecy. The execution of Postmaster General Vincenzo De Marini in 1625 for becoming a French informer and attempting against its security had alerted the Republic to the urgency of a postal reform that would secure its impregnability. Twenty years later, Geronimo Spinola and his son Filippo redesigned the Republic’s postal system (as its Magistrates), which they governed over about two decades (1635-1658). Eminent among the Genoese aristocracy for its ties with the Courts of Madrid and Rome (several of its members were made cardinals), over that same two decades the Spinola family was also entrusted by Pope Innocent X Pamphilj with all correspondence between the Madrid Nunciature and Papal Court. The crucial innovation to the postal system came from privileging the maritime route via Genoa between Rome and Valencia or Alicante. Whereas parcels travelling the customary land route or passing French ports had been regularly tampered with, armed convoys (or an escort of armed feluccas), ensured the security of the Spinola route, neutralizing French espionage. While a simple scheme on paper, the system crucially relied on the Spinola family’s being nestled within the financial, political, and military networks of Spain and the Papacy. On the strength of their dependable family allegiances they were able to devise the most suitable means and employ the most trustworthy partners (boats, patrons, crews, and couriers) for each individual dispatch and deal with the emergencies that periodically occurred in those waters (the consolidation of the French garrison in the Principality of Monaco, the Catalan Revolt, or the siege of the Spanish ports in Tuscany by the French fleet).