European Kingdoms

Giudici of Gallura (Sardinia)
AD c.1070 - 1288

Records of Sardinian history are vague during the preceding Eastern Roman period. Imperial control was already weakening in the eighth century, but the loss of Sicily in 827 seems to have cut Sardinia adrift from central control altogether. The imperial legates evolved into independent governors, with the title 'legate' being replaced by princepes ('princes') in the late ninth century and the less grand 'judges' in the tenth century. In its Latin form, 'iudices' was pronounced in the Sardinian dialect as 'giudici', and the position was essentially the same as that of a petty king.

The system of legates governing the island seems to have been established as a direct result of the Byzantine loss of Carthage in 697. Constantinople was determined not to allow one man to control an entire province in the way that the fairly hapless Gregory the Patrician had with Carthage. Four legates were established, at Arborea, Cagliari, Gallura, and Logudoro, and their administration became increasingly independent during the ninth century. Gallura occupied a slice of the island covering the north-eastern corner, being neighboured to the west by Logudoro and to the south by Cagliari. All details about the giudici until the beginning of the twelfth century are hotly disputed by scholars.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Byzantine Sardinia between West and East - Features of a Regional Culture, Salvatore Cosentino (via Academia.edu), from Overview of Sardinia History (500-1500), Laura Galoppini, and A Revision of Sardinian History between the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries, Corrado Zedda (both from A Companion to Sardinian History, 500-1500, Michalle Hobart (Ed), Leiden: Brill, 2017), and from La storia di Sardegna, F C Casula (Sassari, 1994, in Italian).)

c.1020 - c.1040

The earliest-known giudice of Gallura. Client of Pisa?

c.1020

Manfred is the earliest-known of the giudici of Gallura, although they have presumably been in office since about 697, and independent since the mid-ninth century. Gallura follows Arborea in emerging from historical obscurity by just a few short years. These earliest historical giudice of Gallura may be clients of the republic of Pisa, which is very powerful at this time.

This map shows the approximate boundaries of each of the four giudicati of Sardinia at the time at which they first appeared into history, circa AD 1000

c.1040 - c.1065

Defeated by Arborea and imprisoned. Client of Pisa?

1050s

The earliest-known giudice of Cagliari emerges into history, approximately a generation after Arborea. They have presumably been in office since about 697, and independent of the Eastern Roman empire since the mid-ninth century.

1065

Gallura's early historical phase is less clear than with Arborea or Cagliari. Manfred and Baldo are very briefly mentioned, and Baldo's end is at the hands of Arborea. His replacement is uncertain, either being Constantine I or Saltero. However, Saltero (or at least 'a' Saltero), could also precede Manfred. Constantine is thought to be a member of the Gherardeschi family of Pisa, and therefore a Pisan ruler by default.

c.1065 - c.1080

Client of Pisa?

1070s

Constantine is a supporter of Pisa's influence in Sardinia which, as part of the Gregorian Reforms and the introduction of Western monasticism, is also being welcomed in Cagliari.

c.1080

Can alternatively be placed before Manfred. Died without heir.

c.1080

While the earlier rulers of Gallura are hazy figures in historical terms, the next one, Torchitorio, is much more solid. He is responsible for building a new church in his capital at Civita (modern Olbia), which is consecrated as St Simplicius, and also supports the Western monasticism being introduced into the island.

c.1080 - c.1100

1092

Torchitorio's friendship with the church comes to an end, possibly as a result of his support of Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. The German emperor and the Pope are strongly contesting for supremacy in Italy, and Torchitorio's excommunication is part of the fall-out, thanks to Dagobert, archbishop of Pisa. His successor, Ittocorre, renews Gallura's loyalty to Pisa.

c.1100

Son. Usurped, possibly before even taking power.

c.1100 - 1116

Possibly the brother of Padulesa, wife of Torchitorio.

1116

After holding the office of giudice, Ittocorre appears on a subsequent charter with the rank of donnu, the next most senior subsidiary office, suggesting that he has either abdicated his post or that he held it for a pre-agreed term and has now relinquished it.

The island of Sardinia has always been a mixture of paradise-like beaches and tough mountainous inland country, and the living can be poor and hardy

1116 - c.1133

c.1133 - 1146

Son.

1130 - 1133

Together with Constantine of Arborea and Gonario II of Logudoro, Comita swears fealty to the archbishop of Pisa. Three years later Pope Innocent II divides Sardinia between the two sees of Genoa (newly created) and Pisa. Naturally this creates a further excuse for warfare between the two great rivals, but on the island, only Comita of Gallura supports the Genoese.

1146 - c.1170

Son of Ittocorre? Abdicated to become a monk.

c.1170 - 1203

Son. Mother was Elena de Lacon, dau of Comita III of Arborea.

1203

Before his death, Barisone III had secured his daughter's right to succeed him by commending his office to Pope Innocent III. Once she becomes giudice, Elena is the subject of offers of marriage and considerable disruption is caused on Sardinia as the various powers involved jockey for position. However, the pope is true to his duty and issues several reprimands to giudici, especially William I of Cagliari and Comita III of Logudoro. Elena eventually selects Lambert Visconti as her husband, whose family are already powerful in Pisa and who are shortly to become very powerful in Milan.

1203 - 1218

Daughter.

1207 - 1225

Husband and co-ruler. A Pisan who dominated Elena. Died.

1220

Elena's death has left her husband, Lambert Visconti, in control of Gallura. Now he is able to marry Benedetta of Cagliari and dominate there too, making him one of the most powerful men on Sardinia.

1225 - 1238

Son. Numbering started by his uncle in Cagliari.

1230

With the death of Ubaldo I of Cagliari, Ubaldo II invades, ensuring the continued dominance of the Pisan Visconti there while Benedetta remains the titular ruler of the giudicato.

1232

Upon the death of Benedetta of Cagliari, her infant son William inherits her title, but not her power. Cagliari is partitioned between Arborea, Ubaldo of Gallura, the Gherardeschi family of Pisa, and Pisa itself, and William is giudice in name only.

1236

Ubaldo extends his power over Sardinia still further following his marriage to Adelasia, daughter of Barisone III of Logudoro. When her father dies, she inherits his office and Ubaldo is perfectly placed to dominate both her and Logudoro.

The Basilica of San Simplicio was built in the very late eleventh century by Torchitorio de Zori, in his capital city of Olbia (both its Roman and modern name, while in the Middle Ages it was known as Civita)

1238

Ubaldo's will specifies that his cousin, John (son of Ubaldo I of Cagliari), is to be his successor. Although this occurs, John is nothing more that a titular giudice. The true power is seized and held by Enzo of Logudoro, the second husband of Ubaldo's widow, Adelasia, although perhaps only briefly before John asserts himself.

1238 - 1275

Cousin. Titular giudice under Enzo of Logudoro (briefly?).

1258

William of Cagliari has been following his predecessor's policy of favouring Genoa over Pisa. Pisa's allies in the region now invade. The Gherardeschi of Pisa, William of Capraia, regent of Arborea, and John Visconti conquer Castro Castle and destroy Santa Igia. William is deposed and Cagliari is permanently divided between the victors.

1275 - 1298

Son. Deposed in 1288 but remained titular giudice.

1288 - 1298

Spending much of his time in Pisa, Nino Visconti begins a power-sharing arrangement with his uncle who lives in the same city, Ugolino della Gherardesca. The pair fall out and the senior Ugolino attempts to have Archbishop Ruggieri degli Ubaldini expel Nino. Instead they are both expelled, and a Pisan army is sent to take control of Gallura, making sure Nino is never again able to return there.

1298 - 1308

Daughter. Titular giudice only. Died 1339.

1298 - 1308

With the death of Nino Visconti, his daughter Joanna inherits the title. Despite attempts to assert her rights to control Gallura, she is unsuccessful, and she eventually sells her title to her relatives, the Visconti family of Milan (presumably in 1308). They later sell them on to Aragon, which is eventually able to conquer the entire island. Arborea is now the only remaining giudice on Sardinia.