[1] Son of the merchant Montanaro Guarco, Nicolò was presumably born in the family estate in Cesino, a village near Genoa along the via Postumia, where the Guarcos, originally from Parodi, had relocated in the 12th century to establish there a flourishing estate with agricultural land, watermills and ironworks which allowed the family a rapid ascent in State politics within the Ghibelline faction.

But the leaders of the popolani party were wary of the ambitious young Adorno and, a few hours later, the elected Nicolò Guarco the new doge of the Republic.

[3] To concentrate the forces of the city on the challenge posed by the Venetians, Nicolò farmed out the administration (and pacification) of the island of Corsica to yet another maona.

[3] On 6 August 1379 the allied troops of Genoa, Hungary, Austria, Carrara and Aquileia managed to take the island of Chioggia in the Venetian laguna, forcing the city to demand terms.

Meanwhile, changes imposed upon the judicial administration and the augmentation of the number of body guards were feeding fears that the doge was aiming at creating an autocratic power base for himself.

Confronted with mounting criticism, the doge was forced to expel his noble allies from government, decrease taxes and call back his exiled political enemies, the Fregoso and the Adorno.

[3] Antoniotto Adorno quickly gained the heart of the people, and on 6 April 1383 he forced Nicolò Guarco to abandon the dogeship (but not to be elected doge after him).