Auriate
Encyclopedia
Auriate was a county in medieval Italy on the eastern slopes of the Western Alps lying between Cuneo
and Saluzzo
. The county existed from the late ninth century to the middle of the tenth. The name of the county survives in that of the comune
of Valloriate
.
The earliest known count was one Rodulf, who died in 902, leaving the county to a Frank
named Roger, who had been his second-in-command. Between 940 and 945 Roger's son and successor, Arduin Glaber
, drove the Saracens from the Val di Susa and annexed that region to his county of Auriate. Arduin was a supporter of Berengar of Ivrea
in his successful bid for the Iron Crown of Lombardy
in 950. The following year (951) Berengar completed a reorganisation of western Lombardy, creating three new marches to better defend the coast from Saracen attacks: the March of Genoa
(Eastern Liguria), the March of Montferrat
(Western Liguria), and the March of Turin
. Arduin was created the first Margrave of Turin.
At this time Auriate disappears from the records as a distinct entity, but it remained the centre of the property of the Arduinici
family three generations later, when Bertha married Ottone del Vasto of the Aleramici clan. Their joint properties formed the nucleus of the later March of Saluzzo.
Cuneo
Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area...
and Saluzzo
Saluzzo
Saluzzo is a town and former principality in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont region, Italy.The city of Saluzzo is built on a hill overlooking a vast, well-cultivated plain. Iron, lead, silver, marble, slate etc...
. The county existed from the late ninth century to the middle of the tenth. The name of the county survives in that of the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Valloriate
Valloriate
Valloriate is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km southwest of Turin and about 15 km southwest of Cuneo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 158 and an area of 16.9 km².Valloriate borders the following municipalities:...
.
The earliest known count was one Rodulf, who died in 902, leaving the county to a Frank
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
named Roger, who had been his second-in-command. Between 940 and 945 Roger's son and successor, Arduin Glaber
Arduin Glaber
Arduin Glaber was the Count of Auriate from c. 935 and Margrave of Turin from c. 950. He placed his family, the Arduinici, on a firm foundation and established the march of Turin through conquests and royal concessions...
, drove the Saracens from the Val di Susa and annexed that region to his county of Auriate. Arduin was a supporter of Berengar of Ivrea
Berengar II of Italy
Berengar of Ivrea , sometimes also referred to as Berengar II of Italy, was Margrave of Ivrea and usurper King of Italy from 950 until his deposition in 961, the last before Italy's incorporation into the Holy Roman Empire...
in his successful bid for the Iron Crown of Lombardy
Iron Crown of Lombardy
The Iron Crown of Lombardy is both a reliquary and one of the most ancient royal insignia of Europe. The crown became one of the symbols of the Kingdom of Lombards and later of the medieval Kingdom of Italy...
in 950. The following year (951) Berengar completed a reorganisation of western Lombardy, creating three new marches to better defend the coast from Saracen attacks: the March of Genoa
March of Genoa
The March of Genoa or Eastern Liguria was created in 961 by the Emperor Otto I. It was originally called either the marca Obertenga after its first holder, Oberto I, or the marca Januensis after its original capital and chief city, Genoa. Its creation was part of a general reorganisation of the...
(Eastern Liguria), the March of Montferrat
March of Montferrat
The March of Montferrat was frontier march of the Kingdom of Italy during the Middle Ages and state of the Holy Roman Empire...
(Western Liguria), and the March of Turin
March of Turin
The county or march of Turin was founded in 941 by Hugh of Italy, who appointed Arduin Glaber as its governor. Arduin had captured Turin and the Susa Valley from the Saracens...
. Arduin was created the first Margrave of Turin.
At this time Auriate disappears from the records as a distinct entity, but it remained the centre of the property of the Arduinici
Arduinici
The Arduinici were a noble Frankish family that immigrated to Italy in the early tenth century, possibly from Neustria. They were descended from and take their name after one Arduin ....
family three generations later, when Bertha married Ottone del Vasto of the Aleramici clan. Their joint properties formed the nucleus of the later March of Saluzzo.