Its victory at the Battle of Meloria led to the decline of Pisa, and it was defeated by (*) Venice in the War of Chioggia.
In the Barbary Crusade, this city allied with France to take down the city of Mahdia, a hotspot for Tunisian pirates. Pope Paul III and Francis I of France supported Giovanni Fieschi's failed conspiracy to murder a one family from this city, whose other ruling families included the Adorno and the Obertenghi.  Its victory at the Battle of Meloria led to the decline of Pisa, and it was defeated by (*) Venice in the War of Chioggia. One of its colonies on the Crimean Peninsula, Caffa, introduced the Black Plague to Europe, and this city sold Corsica to France. One admiral from this city lost the Battle of Preveza to the Ottoman Empire but was subsequently led to victory under Don John of Austria at Lepanto. For 10 points, name Ligurian city, an Italian maritime power that was home to Simone Boccanegra, Andrea Doria, and Christopher Columbus.
In the Barbary Crusade, this city allied with France to take down the city of Mahdia, a hotspot for Tunisian pirates.
Genoa [or Genova; or Zena]