Marianus II of Arborea
Encyclopedia
Marianus II (died 1297) was the Giudici of Arborea
from 1241 to his death. With skilled military action, he came to control more than half of the island of Sardinia
. By his control of the vast central plains and the rich deposits of precious metals, he increased the riches of his giudicato and staved off the general economic decline affecting the rest of Europe at the time.
He was the son and successor of Peter II of Arborea
of the Bas-Serra family and local woman named Sardinia. He succeeded to the throne at a young age under the regency of William of Capraia
, a distant relative. William was the son of Bina de Lacon, widow of Peter I
, and Hugh of Capraia, Count of Prato
. William and his brothers Anselm and Berthold were pupils at the court of Peter II, who designated William regent for his son.
On William's death in 1264, Marianus did not take the full reins of power, but instead had to recognize the co-dominion of William's son Nicholas
. In 1270, he imprisoned Nicholas, and in 1274 had him killed and began to govern himself, though he was soon opposed by Berthold's son Anselm
, who held Cagliari.
Marianus was a close ally of the Republic of Pisa
, the most powerful force on Sardinia in the mid-thirteenth century, and received Pisan citizenship on 17 June 1265. He often lived in Pisa and there he met his wife, a daughter of Andreotto Saraceno Caldera. In 1287, he married his son John
with Giacomina, daughter of Ugolino della Gherardesca
, of whom he was a partisan. Marianus was widowed by 1293.
In 1274, he embarked on a series of belligerent adventures to extend his power into Cagliari and Logudoro. He conquered Monforte
on the Nurra
and restored it, leaving an epigraph now in the museum of Sassari
. In 1277, his conquests were recognised by Pope John XXI
. He had annexed part of Montiferru as far as Monte Acuto with all its castles. He thus divided the Logudorese giudicato into a south and north. He was appointed vicar general
of Logudoro.
In 1284, Marianus solicited the aid of Peter III of Aragon
to retake Cagliari. In 1287, Anselm was defeated and killed.
On 4 January 1295, he made a political about turn and left the third part of Cagliari to Pisa. A little later, he took part with his Gherardeschi in-laws in the siege of Villa di Chiesa, defended by the Guelphs of Donoratico. He was wounded and took refuge in San Leonardo di Siete Fuentes, where, according to some sources, he was poisoned in 1297 by the Pisans who wanted to extend their authority in Cagliari to the Argentiera
of Cixerri
.
Asides from his son and successor, John, he left a daughter and an illegitimate son named Barisone (died 1305).
Giudice of Arborea
The Giudici ) of Arborea were the local rulers of the west of Sardinia during the Middle Ages...
from 1241 to his death. With skilled military action, he came to control more than half of the island of Sardinia
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[],...
. By his control of the vast central plains and the rich deposits of precious metals, he increased the riches of his giudicato and staved off the general economic decline affecting the rest of Europe at the time.
He was the son and successor of Peter II of Arborea
Peter II of Arborea
Peter II was the Giudice of Arborea from 1221 to his death. He was also Peter IV, Viscount of Bas. He was "pious and submissive to the church" and his extensive "donations of privileges and judicial lands impoverished his state of glory."Peter's father, Hugh I, of the Bas family, died in 1211...
of the Bas-Serra family and local woman named Sardinia. He succeeded to the throne at a young age under the regency of William of Capraia
William of Capraia
William of Capraia was the regent for Marianus II of Arborea from 1241 until his death, being entitled "Judge" from 1250 on.- Biography:...
, a distant relative. William was the son of Bina de Lacon, widow of Peter I
Peter I of Arborea
Peter I , of the Serra family, was the eldest son and successor of Barisone II of Arborea, reigning from 1186 to his death. His mother was Barisone's first wife, Pellegrina de Lacon...
, and Hugh of Capraia, Count of Prato
Prato
Prato is a city and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city is situated at the foot of Monte Retaia , the last peak in the Calvana chain. The lowest altitude in the comune is 32 m, near the Cascine di Tavola, and the highest is the peak of Monte Cantagrillo...
. William and his brothers Anselm and Berthold were pupils at the court of Peter II, who designated William regent for his son.
On William's death in 1264, Marianus did not take the full reins of power, but instead had to recognize the co-dominion of William's son Nicholas
Nicholas of Capraia
Nicholas of Capraia was the Judge of Arborea from 1264 to his assassination ten years later.Nicholas was the eldest son and successor of William of Capraia, who had usurped the judicial office of Arborea from Marianus II in 1255...
. In 1270, he imprisoned Nicholas, and in 1274 had him killed and began to govern himself, though he was soon opposed by Berthold's son Anselm
Anselm of Capraia
Anselm of Capraia was a Pisan count. His political activity extended from the Republic of Pisa to Sardinia.Anselm was the son of Berthold, brother of William and Anselm, all three of whom went to the court of Peter II of Arborea to be educated...
, who held Cagliari.
Marianus was a close ally of the Republic of Pisa
Republic of Pisa
The Republic of Pisa was a de facto independent state centered on the Tuscan city of Pisa during the late tenth and eleventh centuries. It rose to become an economic powerhouse, a commercial center whose merchants dominated Mediterranean and Italian trade for a century before being surpassed and...
, the most powerful force on Sardinia in the mid-thirteenth century, and received Pisan citizenship on 17 June 1265. He often lived in Pisa and there he met his wife, a daughter of Andreotto Saraceno Caldera. In 1287, he married his son John
John of Arborea
John , nicknamed Chiano, was the Giudici of Arborea from 1297 to his death.He was the son and successor of Marianus II and reigned initially under the tutelage of Tosorat Uberti, a Pisan nobleman. Nino Visconti of Gallura having been deposed in 1288, John was the only judge and Arborea the only...
with Giacomina, daughter of Ugolino della Gherardesca
Ugolino della Gherardesca
Count Ugolino della Gherardesca , count of Donoratico, was an Italian nobleman, politician and naval commander. He was frequently accused of treason and features prominently in Dante's Divine Comedy.-Biography:...
, of whom he was a partisan. Marianus was widowed by 1293.
In 1274, he embarked on a series of belligerent adventures to extend his power into Cagliari and Logudoro. He conquered Monforte
Monforte
-Places in Italy:*Monforte d'Alba, a commune in the province of Cuneo*Corleto Monforte, a commune in the province of Salerno* A Lazio village near Casalattico, formerly called Mortale but renamed in honour of the Forte family-Places in Portugal:...
on the Nurra
Nurra
The Nurra is a geographical region in the northwest of Sardinia, Italy. It is the second largest plain of the island, located between the towns of Sassari, Porto Torres and Alghero...
and restored it, leaving an epigraph now in the museum of Sassari
Sassari
Sassari is an Italian city. It is the second-largest city of Sardinia in terms of population with about 130,000 inhabitants, or about 300,000 including the greater metropolitan area...
. In 1277, his conquests were recognised by Pope John XXI
Pope John XXI
Pope John XXI, , born Pedro Julião Pope John XXI, , born Pedro Julião Pope John XXI, , born Pedro Julião (Latin, Petrus Iulianus (c. 1215 – May 20, 1277), a Portuguese also called Pedro Hispano (Latin, Petrus Hispanus; English, Peter of Spain), was Pope from 1276 until his death about eight...
. He had annexed part of Montiferru as far as Monte Acuto with all its castles. He thus divided the Logudorese giudicato into a south and north. He was appointed vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Logudoro.
In 1284, Marianus solicited the aid of Peter III of Aragon
Peter III of Aragon
Peter the Great was the King of Aragon of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona from 1276 to his death. He conquered Sicily and became its king in 1282. He was one of the greatest of medieval Aragonese monarchs.-Youth and succession:Peter was the eldest son of James I of Aragon and his second wife...
to retake Cagliari. In 1287, Anselm was defeated and killed.
On 4 January 1295, he made a political about turn and left the third part of Cagliari to Pisa. A little later, he took part with his Gherardeschi in-laws in the siege of Villa di Chiesa, defended by the Guelphs of Donoratico. He was wounded and took refuge in San Leonardo di Siete Fuentes, where, according to some sources, he was poisoned in 1297 by the Pisans who wanted to extend their authority in Cagliari to the Argentiera
Argentiera
Argentiera is a Ghost town and a frazione in the comune of Sassari, in Sardinia, Italy. It is far 43 km from Sassari. It is located in a narrow valley, in front of the Sardinian Sea.-History:...
of Cixerri
Cixerri
The Cixerri is an Italian river in southern Sardinia province of Cagliari. It springs from Monte Croccoriga, at 313 m above sea level, in the province of Carbonia-Iglesias. The river flows into a lake north of Iglesias and then exist the lake and flows eastward. The river is joined by a...
.
Asides from his son and successor, John, he left a daughter and an illegitimate son named Barisone (died 1305).