Interactive Timeline
The origins
From an idea to the foundation of Generali
The Bora inspires the birth of Generali
The wind that has battered Trieste since time immemorial and the rough seas bring to light the importance of a solid insurance company. A few years later, Generali is born.
Debuts at La Scala in Milan - and in Trieste
December 26th sees Bellini’s La Norma open at La Scala. The very same day, Assicurazioni Generali Austro-Italiche is founded in Trieste.
Rapid expansion
The first decade sees Generali open offices in every state of Italy; in all the major hubs of the empire, from Vienna to Pest; and in all of Europe’s busiest ports.
A long vacancy
Following bitter disagreement with an important legal consultant, Generali president Giovanni Battista de Rosmini steps down. The role of president remains empty, later to be abolished until 1909.
The phoenix rises from the ashes
December 1836, Venice’s famed La Fenice (The Phoenix) Theatre is devastated by fire, but the indemnification from Generali allows reconstruction work to begin immediately. Just twelve months later, the curtain of La Fenice rises again.
Italy: many states, many problems
The fragmentation of the Italian peninsular into many states shunts, and in some cases, halts completely the development of Generali, all too often rendered inoperative.
Revolution. Also for Generali
The uprisings of 1848 embroil not just Milan but Venice too. Amid all this, the Republic of San Marco is born, with the backing of a large number of Generali’s main players.
A new name
After the turmoil the company drops the adjective ‘Austro-Italiche’ and becomes simply ‘Assicurazioni Generali’, and the imperial eagle on the logo prepares to give way to the lion.
Credits
The images that appear in this timeline are reproduced from and also appear in ‘The Time of the Lion’ (Generali, 2015) or from public domain. Generali would like to thank once again all those who have contributed to the wealth of imagery in this book. The images that appear in this timeline are from the following sources:
1804 - The Bora inspires the birth of Generali
Storm Occurring in Trieste on Boxing Day in the Year 1831 at Two in the Afternoon - Anonymous- courtesy of Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte - Quadreria, inv. 14/2985, Trieste