Ligurian shipping, routes and trade in the Black Sea, 1815–1914

This article explores the resurgence of Ligurian maritime activity in the Black Sea during the early nineteenth century after a four-century absence, driven by the lucrative Black Sea grain trade and coinciding with Genoa’s transition from French to Sardinian rule. Following the Vienna Congress, Ligurian vessels, primarily from small coastal communities, began frequenting Black Sea ports to transport grain to Genoa, Livorno and Marseilles. These efforts were supported by Savoy’s trade policies and Sardinian consuls in the region, leading to a peak in Ligurian shipping activity in the 1860s, before it declined due to competition from foreign steamships. The article emphasizes the crucial role of institutional and state support in establishing this trade, and examines how interactions with national and foreign merchants shaped its development. It is structured around Savoy’s trade policies, the Ligurian presence during the Age of Sail, and the emergence of a niche Italian steam-shipping fleet.