Giudicato of Gallura
Encyclopedia
The Giudicato of Gallura was one of four Sardinia
n giudicati
of the Middle Ages
. These were de facto independent states ruled by judges bearing the title iudex (giudice). Gallura, a name which comes from gallus, meaning rooster
(cock), was subdivided into ten curatoriae governed by curatores under the judge. In the 13th century, the arms
of Gallura contained a rooster.
Gallura
is the northeast region of the island, with its main city at Olbia
. The first iudices of Gallura
only appear in the historical record late in the eleventh century, though certain rulers of earlier periods are known. Gallura, like all the other giudicati, initially owed allegiance to the Archdiocese of Pisa, but Gallura, unlike most of the others, remained relatively steadfast in its support of Pisa, probably due its proximity to the city of Pisa itself. For this reason, it was often in alliance with the Giudicato of Cagliari
in the south.
. After the Arab conquest of Sicily in 827, Sardinia was effectively cut-off from regular communication with the Imperial government in Constantinople
. Unable to receive instruction or support from the empire, the provincial Byzantine magistrates, the iudices ("judges," the latin word evolved into the medieval Italian "Giudicati"), continued to rule autonomously. Like the other Sardinian provinces, what were initially appointed, perhaps even elected, positions eventually evolved into hereditary ones.
From the mid-ninth to the early eleventh centuries, little is known at all about Gallura, but around 1050 appears a figure named Manfred
who was certainly not the first independent ruler (that appears to be one Baldo
). Modern theories generally assume that these early rulers were Pisan governors sent by the Republic. In a letter of Pope Gregory VII
dated 1074, he refers to Constantine I of Gallura
, probably a member of the Gherardeschi clan. There are legends surrounded Constantine's relationship with the powerful Corsica
n lords of Cinarca. Whatever his relationship to his predecessors and successors, the dynasty which was to dominate Gallura in the early twelfth century comes into view only around 1100, when the Pisans were expelled by the Thori
dynasty, which sat on the throne through Torgodorio I.
The last decades of the eleventh century and the opening ones of the twelfth, were dominated in Italy and Germany by the Gregorian reforms and the Investiture Controversy
, to great attempts to restructure Church-State relations. The popes, through Pisan archbishops, sought to extend their authority directly over Sardinia. In this they were aided by the various monastic movements — Benedictine
, Camaldolese
, Vallombrosan, Cassinese — which were supported by the iudices. These monks introduced important economic, agricultural, technological, artistic, ecclesiastic, and social advancements, developments, and transformations.
The reign of Torgodorio's son, Saltaro
, was briefly interrupted for three years by Ittocorre de Gunale
, but the dynasty was restored by Constantine II, who was succeeded by Comita I. Around 1130, Comita joined Gonario II of Torres
and Constantine I of Arborea
in doing homage to the Pisan archdiocese. On 26 June 1132, Comita went to Ardara
, the judicial palace of the Giudicato of Logudoro to do homage directly the Archbishop Roger and thus confirmed the supremacy of the Logudorese giudicato. The ties to Pisa were reestablished and they were to endure. Comita was succeeded by Constantine III
, probably a son of Ittocorre and thus the first Gallurese iudex of the Lacon dynasty.
, who left an only daughter, Elena
, in 1203. This opened Gallura to succession crisis as rival faction sought the hand of Elena in marriage. William Malaspina tried to marry her, but Pope Innocent III
forbade it. In 1206, William I of Cagliari
invaded Gallura. Finally, in 1207, Elena married the Pisan Lamberto Visconti. Lamberto repulsed the invasion and secured Gallura in the Pisan fold.
In 1211, Comita III of Torres
confirmed a treaty with the Republic of Genoa
, Pisa's traditional rival for Sardinian influence, whereby the two powers — Logudoro and Genoa — would jointly conquer the entire island and put it under Genoese suzerainty with Comita as judge. They first invaded Gallura because of its strong Pisan connection. In 1212, Pisa struck back, but it was not until William of Cagliari's death in 1214, that Gallura was able to defeat Comita and Genoa and force them to terms on land. A naval war continued until Pope Honorius III
forced a treaty on the parties on 1 December 1217.
After Elena's death, Lamberto continued to rule Gallura and eventually married the heiress of Cagliari, ruling both giudicati until his death in 1225. He was succeeded by his son Ubaldo
in Gallura and by his brother Ubaldo
in Cagliari. When the elder Ubaldo died, the younger tried to take over Cagliari but failed. In 1236, Logudoro was finally acquired by marriage to Adelasia. Ubaldo died in 1238 and his widow married Enzio
, illegitimate son of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
. Enzio took up the royal title over all Sardinia, but Ubaldo's son John
succeeded him in Gallura, passing his time back and forth between the island and Pisa. This was also the habit of his son and successor, Nino. Following the Battle of Meloria, a disaster for Pisa, in 1284, Nino tried to take power in the city, but was ousted and deposed from Gallura in 1287. This marked the end of the Visconti rule in Gallura which had begun in 1207.
Pisa annexed Gallura and held in until the Catalan
conquest in 1323 – 1324. Nino's only daughter, Joanna
, continued to claim her rights until her death in 1339, at which point the title to Gallura passed to the Visconti of Milan
, who ceded it to the Crown of Aragon
.
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
n giudicati
Giudicati
The giudicati were the indigenous kingdoms of Sardinia from about 900 until 1410, when the last fell to the Aragonese. The rulers of the giudicati were giudici , from the Latin iudice , often translates as "judge". The Latin for giudicato was iudicatus The giudicati (singular giudicato) were the...
of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. These were de facto independent states ruled by judges bearing the title iudex (giudice). Gallura, a name which comes from gallus, meaning rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
(cock), was subdivided into ten curatoriae governed by curatores under the judge. In the 13th century, the arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Gallura contained a rooster.
Gallura
Gallura
Gallura is a region of northern Sardinia, Italy.The name Gallùra means "area located on high ground".-Geography:...
is the northeast region of the island, with its main city at Olbia
Olbia
Olbia is a town and comune of 56,231 inhabitants in northeastern Sardinia , in the Gallura sub-region. Called Olbia in the Roman age, Civita in the Middle Ages and Terranova Pausania before the 1940s, Olbia was again the official name of the town after the period of Fascism.-Geography:It is the...
. The first iudices of Gallura
Giudice of Gallura
The giudici of Gallura were the local rulers of the northeast of Sardinia during the Middle Ages. Theirs was the closest giudicato to Corsica.*Manfred...
only appear in the historical record late in the eleventh century, though certain rulers of earlier periods are known. Gallura, like all the other giudicati, initially owed allegiance to the Archdiocese of Pisa, but Gallura, unlike most of the others, remained relatively steadfast in its support of Pisa, probably due its proximity to the city of Pisa itself. For this reason, it was often in alliance with the Giudicato of Cagliari
Giudicato of Cagliari
The Giudicato of Cagliari was one of the four Sardinian giudicati of the Middle Ages. It covered the entire south and central east portion of the island and was composed of thirteen subdivisions called curatoriae. To its north and west lay Arborea and north and on the east lay Gallura and Logudoro...
in the south.
Origins
Gallura began as a province of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. After the Arab conquest of Sicily in 827, Sardinia was effectively cut-off from regular communication with the Imperial government in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. Unable to receive instruction or support from the empire, the provincial Byzantine magistrates, the iudices ("judges," the latin word evolved into the medieval Italian "Giudicati"), continued to rule autonomously. Like the other Sardinian provinces, what were initially appointed, perhaps even elected, positions eventually evolved into hereditary ones.
From the mid-ninth to the early eleventh centuries, little is known at all about Gallura, but around 1050 appears a figure named Manfred
Manfred of Gallura
Manfred was the first Judge of Gallura. He was probably a client of the Republic of Pisa. His predecessor may have been Saltaro. He was succeeded by Baldo.-Sources:*Manno, Giuseppe. 2005....
who was certainly not the first independent ruler (that appears to be one Baldo
Baldo of Gallura
Baldo was the Judge of Gallura during the time of Comita I of Torres. He succeeded Manfred and both were probably Pisan clients.Comita made war on Baldo, defeated him, and captured him. His successor is not known with certainty. It was probably Constantine I, but was perhaps...
). Modern theories generally assume that these early rulers were Pisan governors sent by the Republic. In a letter of Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
dated 1074, he refers to Constantine I of Gallura
Constantine I of Gallura
Constantine I was the Giudice of Gallura from probably before 1065 to sometime before 1100. He was probably a member of the Gherardeschi family of Pisa and governed Gallura on behalf of the Republic....
, probably a member of the Gherardeschi clan. There are legends surrounded Constantine's relationship with the powerful Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
n lords of Cinarca. Whatever his relationship to his predecessors and successors, the dynasty which was to dominate Gallura in the early twelfth century comes into view only around 1100, when the Pisans were expelled by the Thori
Thori
Thori is a village development committee in Parsa District in the Narayani Zone of southern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 6820 people living in 1256 individual households....
dynasty, which sat on the throne through Torgodorio I.
Twelfth century
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
, to great attempts to restructure Church-State relations. The popes, through Pisan archbishops, sought to extend their authority directly over Sardinia. In this they were aided by the various monastic movements — Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
, Camaldolese
Camaldolese
The Camaldolese monks and nuns are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities which follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century...
, Vallombrosan, Cassinese — which were supported by the iudices. These monks introduced important economic, agricultural, technological, artistic, ecclesiastic, and social advancements, developments, and transformations.
The reign of Torgodorio's son, Saltaro
Saltaro of Gallura
Saltaro was the Judge of Gallura, but the dates of his reign are unknown, as are his familial ties.He made a donation of Vitithe to the Church of Pisa which was confirmed in 1116 by Ittocorre. The charter calls him encus mortuus est, idest sine haeredibus . He may have been a son and successor of...
, was briefly interrupted for three years by Ittocorre de Gunale
Ittocorre of Gallura
Ittocorre or Ottocorre was the Judge of Gallura early in the 12th century. He is first mentioned in a donation charter of Padules de Gunale, the widow of Torchitorio de Zori in 1112, from which it is inferred that he succeeded Torchitorio as judge around the turn of the century.By a Pisan charter...
, but the dynasty was restored by Constantine II, who was succeeded by Comita I. Around 1130, Comita joined Gonario II of Torres
Gonario II of Torres
Gonario II was the giudice of Logudoro from the death of his father to his own abdication in 1154. He was a son of Constantine I and Marcusa de Gunale. He was born between 1113 and 1114 according to later sources and the Camaldolese church of S...
and Constantine I of Arborea
Constantine I of Arborea
Constantine I was the giudice of Arborea. He was the son of Gonario II and Elena de Orrubu. The dates of his reign are unknown, but he was probably in power at the turn of the 12th century. It was probably dominated by wars between Genoa and Pisa which lasted from 1118 to 1133.Constantine...
in doing homage to the Pisan archdiocese. On 26 June 1132, Comita went to Ardara
Ardara
Ardara is a small town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It is located on the N56 road.Ardara is a small town with a population of 578 . Over recent years the town has seen some great growth with a lot of the pubs and shops being renovated...
, the judicial palace of the Giudicato of Logudoro to do homage directly the Archbishop Roger and thus confirmed the supremacy of the Logudorese giudicato. The ties to Pisa were reestablished and they were to endure. Comita was succeeded by Constantine III
Constantine III of Gallura
Constantine III , possibly a son of Ittocorre, succeeded Comita Spanu as giudice of Gallura in 1146 and reigned until 1161, when he retired from the world as a monk...
, probably a son of Ittocorre and thus the first Gallurese iudex of the Lacon dynasty.
Thirteenth century
Constantine was succeeded by his son Barisone IIBarisone II of Gallura
Barisone II was the Judge of Gallura from about 1170 to his death. He was the son of Constantine III. His name appears in acts of 1182 and 1184....
, who left an only daughter, Elena
Elena of Gallura
Elena was the daughter and successor of Barisone II of Gallura and was named after her mother of the Lacon family. She ruled Gallura from the death of her father until her own death, though she was eclipsed by her husband after 1207....
, in 1203. This opened Gallura to succession crisis as rival faction sought the hand of Elena in marriage. William Malaspina tried to marry her, but Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
forbade it. In 1206, William I of Cagliari
William I of Cagliari
William I was the giudice of Cagliari from 1188 to his death.William was one of the greatest of medieval Sardinian giudici...
invaded Gallura. Finally, in 1207, Elena married the Pisan Lamberto Visconti. Lamberto repulsed the invasion and secured Gallura in the Pisan fold.
In 1211, Comita III of Torres
Comita III of Torres
Comita III was the giudice of Logudoro, with its capital at Torres, from 1198 until 1218. He was the youngest of four sons of Barisone II of Torres and Preziosa de Orrubu...
confirmed a treaty with the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
, Pisa's traditional rival for Sardinian influence, whereby the two powers — Logudoro and Genoa — would jointly conquer the entire island and put it under Genoese suzerainty with Comita as judge. They first invaded Gallura because of its strong Pisan connection. In 1212, Pisa struck back, but it was not until William of Cagliari's death in 1214, that Gallura was able to defeat Comita and Genoa and force them to terms on land. A naval war continued until Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
forced a treaty on the parties on 1 December 1217.
After Elena's death, Lamberto continued to rule Gallura and eventually married the heiress of Cagliari, ruling both giudicati until his death in 1225. He was succeeded by his son Ubaldo
Ubaldo of Gallura
Ubaldo II Visconti, son of Lamberto di Eldizio and Elena de Lacon, was the Judge of Gallura from 1225 to his death in 1238. He ruled every giudicato on the island of Sardinia at one point or another save Arborea....
in Gallura and by his brother Ubaldo
Ubaldo I Visconti
Ubaldo I Visconti was the de jure overlord of the Giudicato of Cagliari from 1217. He was a member of the Visconti family of Pisa, controlling Cagliari on behalf of his brother, who was judge jure uxoris from 1218....
in Cagliari. When the elder Ubaldo died, the younger tried to take over Cagliari but failed. In 1236, Logudoro was finally acquired by marriage to Adelasia. Ubaldo died in 1238 and his widow married Enzio
Enzio of Sardinia
Enzio was an illegitimate son of Emperor Frederick II and King of Sardinia.-Life:...
, illegitimate son of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
. Enzio took up the royal title over all Sardinia, but Ubaldo's son John
John of Gallura
John Visconti was the Judge of Gallura from 1238 to his death. He was a member of the Visconti dynasty of Pisa....
succeeded him in Gallura, passing his time back and forth between the island and Pisa. This was also the habit of his son and successor, Nino. Following the Battle of Meloria, a disaster for Pisa, in 1284, Nino tried to take power in the city, but was ousted and deposed from Gallura in 1287. This marked the end of the Visconti rule in Gallura which had begun in 1207.
Pisa annexed Gallura and held in until the Catalan
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
conquest in 1323 – 1324. Nino's only daughter, Joanna
Joanna of Gallura
Joanna Visconti was the titular Judge of Gallura from 1298. She was the daughter of Ugolino Visconti and Beatrice, daughter of Obizzo II d'Este...
, continued to claim her rights until her death in 1339, at which point the title to Gallura passed to the Visconti of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, who ceded it to the Crown of Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
.
Historiography
The history of Gallura is based on slender documentation, almost all of it assembled in the archives of Pisa and Genoa and viewing Arborea and the other giudicati through a colonial lens. The evaluation of political figures has traditionally been made on the basis of military accomplishment, whereas Nowé points out that the ecclesiastical policy of the rulers of Sardinia was just as important in determining the stability, peacefulness, and long-term success of the giudicati in the face of colonialism.Sources
- Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. Rome, 1963 – Present.
- Nowé, Laura Sannia. Dai "lumi" dalla patria Italiana: Cultura letteraria sarda. Mucchi Editore: Modena, 1996.
- Fara, G. B. De rebus Sardois. Turin, 1835.