Giovanni Andrea Doria


Giovanni Andrea Doria, also known as Gianandrea Doria, was an Italian admiral from Genoa, the Marquis of Tursi and Prince of Melfi.

Biography

Doria was born to a noble family of the Republic of Genoa. He was the son of Giannettino Doria, of the Doria family, who died when Doria was 6 years old. He would be selected by his great-uncle Andrea Doria to command the family's galleys.
He became the Admiral of the Genoese Fleet in 1555 and commanded the combined Christian fleet of the Holy League at the Battle of Djerba in 1560, which was won by the Ottoman Turks under the command of Piyale Pasha. He barely escaped with his life as his troops suffered a crushing defeat, the stress and shame supposedly caused the older Andrea Doria to die.
He also participated in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, commanding the right wing of the Christian coalition force known as the Holy League. During the battle he allowed a gap to be formed in the Holy League's battle line which was exploited by Occhiali. Many historians have criticized Doria for opening the line, some going so far as to describe it as an act of cowardice. The battle was ultimately won by the Holy League, and signaled the first defeat of the Ottoman Turks at sea since Preveza. Doria would go on to write reports attempting to justify his actions at the battle.
Using the momentum from the Battle of Lepanto, Don John and Doria would go on to capture Tunis in 1573.
He was defeated in the battle of the Strait of Gibraltar in 1591. Doria also organized an expedition against the Barbary states in 1601, which was ultimately aborted.
Doria was a knight commander of the Order of Santiago. He was also the Marquis of Tursi and 6th Prince of Melfi.

Marriages and children

He married firstly in 1558 with Zenobia del Carretto and had:
He married secondly and secretly in 1590 with Baroness Katharina of Lysfelt and Harem, natural and legitimate daughter of Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.