1338, Savoy organized a small crusade together with other small nations, and Thessalia was reconquered from the Rum-Seljuks. Bulgaria got Sofia back. While in 1395 other Italian states were hit by the Black Death, Savoy, like Florence, was an exception. Thus, the weight of Savoy (until then rather sitting at the fence of northern Italy) became greater. 1430-35, Savoy invaded the republic of Genoa, annexing it. The duke treated the conquered city relatively well, though; he wanted to use it to become a power in the Mediterranean, too.