Comita III of Torres
Encyclopedia
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. He ruled at a time when the great families, usually foreign, were superseding the giudici in power and influence on Sardinia
.
Around 1180, he married Ispella (daughter of Barisone II of Arborea
by his first, divorced, wife Pellegrina de Lacon), herself widow of Hug de Cervera and mother of Ugone de Bas, co-giudice of Arborea
. By her he had four children: Maria, who married Boniface, heir of Manfred II of Saluzzo
; Preziosa; Marianus
, his heir; and Giorgia, who married Manuele Doria. He himself married as his second wife Agnes, the sister of Boniface.
In December 1198, his elder brother Constantine II
died heirless in battle with William I of Cagliari
. Comita succeeded to the giudicato. Both Constantine (and subsequently Comita) and William were at war with Peter I of Arborea
over the co-rule of Arborea. At the time of his succession to the pro-Genoese
state of Logudoro, Goceano
was in William's hands. In exchange for Goceano, Comita considered siding with Pisa
and expelling the Genoese from his giudicato, as well as relinquishing his claims to Arborea. In an ensuing peace treaty with Cagliari, Marianus, Comita's heir, married Agnes of Massa, William's daughter, who brought with her Goceano as a dowry.
Soon, however, Comita accused William to Pope Innocent III
of aggression and other breaches of their accord. Arborea came under papal protection. In response, William married another daughter of his to Ugone, the co-judge of Arborea and a stepson of Comita. William effectively took control of Arborea.
In 1203, William Malaspina, a cousin of William of Cagliari, tried to marry the daughter of Barisone II of Gallura
. This attempt to control the Galluran judgeship was nixed by the pope. In 1205, Lamberto Visconti married her. By a treaty confirmed in 1211, Comita allied with Genoa to conquere the whole island and bring under their control. There were to be no separate peaces. Together they invaded Gallura
, now ruled by Lamberto. After that, with the support of Innocent, they invaded Arborea, an invasion which ended in the partition of the realm: half going to Barisone III, son of Peter I, and a quarter each going to Comita and William of Cagliari. The 1212 campaign was interrupted by Pisan repercussions and in 1214, William died. Lamberto and Ubaldo I Visconti
took the opportunity that year to launch an offensive at Gallura, Cagliari, and Arborea, but were beaten off by Comita and Genoa. The war continued at sea, but was arrested by the entreaties of Pope Honorius III
, who forced Comita to come to terms with Pisa (1 December 1217). Comita died sometime the next year, when his successor appears first as giudice on 10 November 1218.
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 Logudoro
Logudoro
The Logudoro is a large traditional region in central-northern Sardinia, Italy. The local dialect is known as Logudorese.Mostly composed of soft volcanic terrains, it is the most fertile area of the island. For this reason it was settled since early Prehistoric times, as shown by the presence of...
, with its capital at Torres
Porto Torres
Porto Torres is a comune and city in northern Sardinia, in the Province of Sassari.It is situated on the north coast about 25 km east of the Gorditanian promontory , and on the spacious bay of the Gulf of Asinara.-History:...
, from 1198 until 1218. He was the youngest of four sons of Barisone II
Barisone II of Torres
Barison II or Barisone II was the giudice of Logudoro from 1153 to 1186. He was the son and successor of Gonario II, who retired to the monastery of Clairvaux to live out his days....
of Torres and Preziosa de Orrubu. He ruled at a time when the great families, usually foreign, were superseding the giudici in power and influence on 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[],...
.
Around 1180, he married Ispella (daughter of Barisone II of Arborea
Barisone II of Arborea
Barison II or Barisone II was the giudice of Arborea, a kingdom of Sardinia, from 1146 to 1186. He was the son of Comita II and Elena de Orrubu. His reign was groundbreaking in Sardinian history...
by his first, divorced, wife Pellegrina de Lacon), herself widow of Hug de Cervera and mother of Ugone de Bas, co-giudice of Arborea
Arborea
Arborea is a town and comune in the province of Oristano, Sardinia, Italy, whose economy is largely based on agriculture, with production of vegetables and fruit.- History :...
. By her he had four children: Maria, who married Boniface, heir of Manfred II of Saluzzo
Manfred II of Saluzzo
Manfred II was the second marquess of Saluzzo from his father's death in 1175 to his own. He was the son of Manfred I and Eleanor. He placed the capital of the margravate definitively in Saluzzo....
; Preziosa; Marianus
Marianus II of Torres
Marianus II was the Judge of Logudoro from 1218 until his death. He was an ally of the Republic of Genoa and enemy of Pisa.He was a son of Comita III , who associated him with the government of Logudoro as early as 1203. He succeeded his father in 1218...
, his heir; and Giorgia, who married Manuele Doria. He himself married as his second wife Agnes, the sister of Boniface.
In December 1198, his elder brother Constantine II
Constantine II of Torres
Constantine II , called de Martis, was the giudice of Logudoro. He succeeded to the giudicato sometime between 1181 and 1191. He was the son of Barisone II and Preziosa de Orrubu. His father associated him with the government in 1170 and abdicated the throne to him around 1186...
died heirless in battle with 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...
. Comita succeeded to the giudicato. Both Constantine (and subsequently Comita) and William were at war with Peter I of Arborea
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...
over the co-rule of Arborea. At the time of his succession to the pro-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....
state of Logudoro, 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...
was in William's hands. In exchange for Goceano, Comita considered siding with Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
and expelling the Genoese from his giudicato, as well as relinquishing his claims to Arborea. In an ensuing peace treaty with Cagliari, Marianus, Comita's heir, married Agnes of Massa, William's daughter, who brought with her Goceano as a dowry.
Soon, however, Comita accused William to 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....
of aggression and other breaches of their accord. Arborea came under papal protection. In response, William married another daughter of his to Ugone, the co-judge of Arborea and a stepson of Comita. William effectively took control of Arborea.
In 1203, William Malaspina, a cousin of William of Cagliari, tried to marry the daughter of Barisone II of Gallura
Barisone 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....
. This attempt to control the Galluran judgeship was nixed by the pope. In 1205, Lamberto Visconti married her. By a treaty confirmed in 1211, Comita allied with Genoa to conquere the whole island and bring under their control. There were to be no separate peaces. Together they invaded Gallura
Gallura
Gallura is a region of northern Sardinia, Italy.The name Gallùra means "area located on high ground".-Geography:...
, now ruled by Lamberto. After that, with the support of Innocent, they invaded Arborea, an invasion which ended in the partition of the realm: half going to Barisone III, son of Peter I, and a quarter each going to Comita and William of Cagliari. The 1212 campaign was interrupted by Pisan repercussions and in 1214, William died. Lamberto and Ubaldo I Visconti
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....
took the opportunity that year to launch an offensive at Gallura, Cagliari, and Arborea, but were beaten off by Comita and Genoa. The war continued at sea, but was arrested by the entreaties of 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...
, who forced Comita to come to terms with Pisa (1 December 1217). Comita died sometime the next year, when his successor appears first as giudice on 10 November 1218.
Sources
- Caravale, Mario (ed). Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: XXVII Collenuccio – Confortini. RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 1982.