Gian Francesco was the eldest son of Anton Giulio II Brignole Sale, 5th
Marquess of Groppoli, and Isabella Brignole. He belonged to the illustrious Brignole family who had already offered a doge to Genoa, his namesake
Giovanni Francesco I Brignole Sale, in 1635. Brignole Sale had three brothers, Gian Giacomo,
Giuseppe and
Rodolfo Emilio, the last of whom also served as doge. He completed his education at the
Collegio Tolomei, in
Siena. Brignole Sale was elected Doge in 1746, during his mandate the
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle brought the borders of the Republic back to the
status quo and the
Marquisate of Finale recovered. In his two years as doge Brignole Sale protected the state from nothing less than a European war, a military invasion, a maritime blockade and a popular revolt, deserving the praises that were then recognized. At the end of the two-year period of his Dogate, Brignole was appointed "perpetual procurator" and "superintendent of the strongholds" and, when he did not participate in the government of the State, he took care of administering his lands in Groppoli, challenging the
Grand Duchy of Tuscany that had officially divested it. Brignole Sale died on February 14, 1760, in
Palazzo Rosso, Genoa. == See also ==