 In 1278, on the initiative of the uncle Moroello, the Malaspina occupied the town of Chiavari causing a war with Genoa to which Conrad only participated marginally, to the point that he was absent for the peace oath, being in his overseas lands of Sardinia.The management of the territory in the following years proved fruitful for the bonds with Genoese families that were strengthened by weddings and both political and financial joint ventures.The collaboration with the Genoese families was linked to the war between Genoa and Pisa.