The Genoese crossbowmen (Italian: Balestrieri genovesi) were a famous military corps of the Middle Ages, which acted both in defence of the Republic of Genoa, and as mercenaries for other Italian or European powers. Armed with crossbows made in Genoa by the Balistai Corporation, they fought both on land and in naval battles; notable cases of the latter are the battles of Meloria and Curzola. They came also from other parts of Liguria, but were trained and organized in Genoa.