Marianus IV of Arborea
Encyclopedia
Marianus IV called the Great, was the Giudice of Arborea
from 1347 to his death. He was, as his nickname indicates, the greatest sovereign of Arborea. He was a legislator and a warrior whose reign saw the commencement of massive codification of the laws of his realm and incessant warfare with the Republic of Pisa
and the Aragonese Empire. He was also a religious man, who had connections to Catherine of Siena
. He was, in short, an "wise legislator, able politician, and valiant warrior."
, he was the son of Hugh II
and successor of his brother Peter III
. As a Catalan
he partook heavily of that culture, spending most of his life in Barcelona
, where he was educated at the court of Alfonso IV of Aragon
. He participated actively in the coronation of Peter IV
in 1336. In 1336 in Barcelona, he married Timbor, daughter of Dalmatius IV of Rocabertí and Beatrice of Serrallonga, Baroness of Cabrenys. In 1339, he was invested by Peter with the counties of Bas
(Spain), Goceano
(Sardinia), and Marmilla
(Sardinia).
In 1347, the Doria
rebelled and defeated the Catalans at Aidu de Turdu, occupying Bonorva
. This sparked a long war between Aragon and Genoa, but at the outset the Doria could not take advantage of their victory. On 11 September 1349, he returned to Oristano, two years after succeeding his childless elder brother. One of his first acts was to repopulate the town of Goceano, rebuild the castle there, and plant a florid garden.
(1353), he parted ways with the Catalans. He allied with the Genoese
and the Doria, then at war with Aragon, and made himself an enemy of the Pisans and Aragonese.
Marianus' first directive was against Gerardo Gherardeschi, a loyal Pisan vassal of the Aragonese. He attacked Castel di Castro from the south but was rebuffed. He initiated a siege until his Doria allies could attack from the north. They did, and took Alghero. His armies proved successful in the field and he succeeded in expelling the Aragonese from every redoubt on the island save the stronghold of Castel di Castro. He even menaced Sassari
in 1354. Later that year, Peter IV landed on the island at Nulauro. Marianus promptly began a guerilla war of ambushes against royal troops until, at the end of 1355, a brief peace was signed at Sanluri
by which Marianus renounced Alghero. The peace lasted two yours, during which Marianus reinforced his armies and the country progressed favourably economically.
In 1365, the war resumed with full force. Pope Urban V
confirmed Arborean possession of the whole of the island save Sassari, Alghero, and Cagliari
. Peter IV, however, sent a fleet commanded by Pere de Luna to lead an Aragonese army deep into Arborea, bypassing other fortifications to assault Oristano. The Aragonese troops were trapped between the Arborean armies commanded by Marianus and his son, the future Hugh III
, and routed. In 1368, Marianus finally occupied Sassari. He was preparing another campaign when he died in 1376.
later incorporated into her massive Carta de Logu
. His great work, however, was cut short by his sudden death of the bubonic plague
in 1376.
Timbor was still living in 1361, but that is the last she is heard of.
Giudice of Arborea
The Giudici ) of Arborea were the local rulers of the west of Sardinia during the Middle Ages...
from 1347 to his death. He was, as his nickname indicates, the greatest sovereign of Arborea. He was a legislator and a warrior whose reign saw the commencement of massive codification of the laws of his realm and incessant warfare with 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...
and the Aragonese Empire. He was also a religious man, who had connections to Catherine of Siena
Catherine of Siena
Saint Catherine of Siena, T.O.S.D, was a tertiary of the Dominican Order, and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. She also worked to bring the papacy of Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France, and to establish peace among the Italian city-states. She was proclaimed a Doctor...
. He was, in short, an "wise legislator, able politician, and valiant warrior."
Life in Catalonia
Born at OristanoOristano
Oristano is a town and comune, capital of the Province of Oristano, on the island of Sardinia, Italy. It has approximately 32,500 inhabitants.Its economy is mainly based on fishing, agriculture and, to a certain extent, tourism.-History:...
, he was the son of Hugh II
Hugh II of Arborea
Hugh II was Giudice of Arborea, reigning from 1321 CE until his death in 1336 CE. He was the illegitimate son of Marianus III of Arborea and Paulesa de Serra....
and successor of his brother Peter III
Peter III of Arborea
Peter III, of the Cappai de Bas family, was the Giudice of Arborea, reigning from 1335 CE until his death in 1347 CE. He was the son and successor of Hugh II assumed the throne on his father's death....
. As a 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...
he partook heavily of that culture, spending most of his life in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, where he was educated at the court of Alfonso IV of Aragon
Alfonso IV of Aragon
Alfonso IV, called the Kind was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1327 to his death. He was the second son of James II and Blanche of Anjou...
. He participated actively in the coronation of Peter IV
Peter IV of Aragon
Peter IV, , called el Cerimoniós or el del punyalet , was the King of Aragon, King of Sardinia and Corsica , King of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona Peter IV, (Balaguer, September 5, 1319 – Barcelona, January 6, 1387), called el Cerimoniós ("the Ceremonious") or el del punyalet ("the one...
in 1336. In 1336 in Barcelona, he married Timbor, daughter of Dalmatius IV of Rocabertí and Beatrice of Serrallonga, Baroness of Cabrenys. In 1339, he was invested by Peter with the counties of Bas
Bas
-Places:*Bas-Caraquet, New Brunswick, meaning "Lower Caraquet', a village on the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick, Canada*Bas-Congo , a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(Spain), Goceano
Goceano
The Goceano is a historical and geographical region of center-north of Sardinia island, Italy.It covers a surface of 480 km² and has a population of 13,000 inhabitants...
(Sardinia), and Marmilla
Marmilla
Marmilla is a natural region of southern-central Sardinia, Italy.It is delimited from east and south by the Campidano, from north-west by Monte Arci, from north by the Giara di Gesturi and the Giara di Serri, and from east by the Flumini Mannu....
(Sardinia).
In 1347, the Doria
Doria
Doria, originally de Auria , meaning "the sons of Auria", and then de Oria or d'Oria, is the name of an old and extremely wealthy Genoese family who played a major role in the history of the Republic of Genoa and in Italy, from the 12th century to the 16th century.-Origins:According to legend, a...
rebelled and defeated the Catalans at Aidu de Turdu, occupying Bonorva
Bonorva
Bonorva is a comune in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 140 km north of Cagliari and about 40 km southeast of Sassari....
. This sparked a long war between Aragon and Genoa, but at the outset the Doria could not take advantage of their victory. On 11 September 1349, he returned to Oristano, two years after succeeding his childless elder brother. One of his first acts was to repopulate the town of Goceano, rebuild the castle there, and plant a florid garden.
War with Aragon
Though an alliance had been in effect with Aragon for more than fifty years at the time of his accession, Marianus realised that the political aim of Peter IV was nothing less than the annexation of Sardinia and, following the conquest of AlgheroAlghero
Alghero , is a town of about 44,000 inhabitants in Italy. It lies in the province of Sassari in northwestern Sardinia, next to the sea.-History:The area of today's Alghero has been settled since pre-historic times...
(1353), he parted ways with the Catalans. He allied with the Genoese
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....
and the Doria, then at war with Aragon, and made himself an enemy of the Pisans and Aragonese.
Marianus' first directive was against Gerardo Gherardeschi, a loyal Pisan vassal of the Aragonese. He attacked Castel di Castro from the south but was rebuffed. He initiated a siege until his Doria allies could attack from the north. They did, and took Alghero. His armies proved successful in the field and he succeeded in expelling the Aragonese from every redoubt on the island save the stronghold of Castel di Castro. He even menaced 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 1354. Later that year, Peter IV landed on the island at Nulauro. Marianus promptly began a guerilla war of ambushes against royal troops until, at the end of 1355, a brief peace was signed at Sanluri
Sanluri
Sanluri is the capital town of the province of Medio Campidano, Sardinia, Italy....
by which Marianus renounced Alghero. The peace lasted two yours, during which Marianus reinforced his armies and the country progressed favourably economically.
In 1365, the war resumed with full force. Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V , born Guillaume Grimoard, was Pope from 1362 to 1370.-Biography:Grimoard was a native of Grizac in Languedoc . He became a Benedictine and a doctor in Canon Law, teaching at Montpellier and Avignon...
confirmed Arborean possession of the whole of the island save Sassari, Alghero, and Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
. Peter IV, however, sent a fleet commanded by Pere de Luna to lead an Aragonese army deep into Arborea, bypassing other fortifications to assault Oristano. The Aragonese troops were trapped between the Arborean armies commanded by Marianus and his son, the future Hugh III
Hugh III of Arborea
Hugh III was the eldest son and successor of Marianus IV of Arborea and Timbor of Rocabertí. He succeeded in 1376 as Giudice of Arborea and Count of Goceano. In most ways he continued and augmented the policies of his father...
, and routed. In 1368, Marianus finally occupied Sassari. He was preparing another campaign when he died in 1376.
Legislation
During the two-year peace, Marianus began the work of putting down in writing the oral laws and customs of Arborea. The chief legislative work of his lifetime was the Codice Rurale, which his daughter EleanorEleanor of Arborea
Eleanor ; 1347 – 1404) was the giudicessa of Arborea from 1383 to her death. She was one of the last — and most powerful and significant — Sardinian judges; as well as the island's most renowned heroine....
later incorporated into her massive Carta de Logu
Carta de Logu
The Carta de Logu was legal code of the Giudicato of Arborea promulgated by the giudicessa Eleanor in 1392. It was in force in Sardinia until it was superseded by the code of Charles Felix in April 1827....
. His great work, however, was cut short by his sudden death of the bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
in 1376.
Children
By his wife Tambor, Marianus left three children:- Hugh IIIHugh III of ArboreaHugh III was the eldest son and successor of Marianus IV of Arborea and Timbor of Rocabertí. He succeeded in 1376 as Giudice of Arborea and Count of Goceano. In most ways he continued and augmented the policies of his father...
, his successor - EleanorEleanor of ArboreaEleanor ; 1347 – 1404) was the giudicessa of Arborea from 1383 to her death. She was one of the last — and most powerful and significant — Sardinian judges; as well as the island's most renowned heroine....
, his son's successor - Beatrice (died 1377), married (1363) to Aimeric VI of Narbonne
- an unnamed daughter died young on 14 January 1343
Timbor was still living in 1361, but that is the last she is heard of.
Sources
- Nowé, Laura Sannia. Dai "lumi" dalla patria Italiana: Cultura letteraria sarda. Mucchi Editore: Modena, 1996.