The war was launched by Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy, in 1672, but an exiled Genoese named Rafaello della Torre had initially prompted Charles Emmanuel into declaring war. Charles Emmanuel believed that Spain, engaged in hostilities with France in the Franco-Dutch War, would not assist Genoa. Charles Emmanuel’s declaration of war was based on pretexts that were “slight and trivial,” and it was evident that his reasons for going to war were to gain the seaport of Savona. Despite Charles Emmanuel's predictions, the Genoese did receive aid from Spain.