March of Turin
Encyclopedia
The county or march of Turin (sometimes "march of Susa") was founded in 941
by Hugh of Italy
, who appointed Arduin Glaber
as its governor. Arduin had captured Turin
and the Susa Valley
from the Saracens. By subsequent conquests, Arduin came to govern a vast march with the margravial title (consistently used from 962
).
The march
, first called the marca Arduinica, was formed by a reorganisation of the territory of the regnum Italicum into three margraviates for three great families: the marca Arduinica, marca Aleramica, and marca Obertenga.
Ulric Manfred II
, the most powerful margrave, left the march to his daughter Adelaide
, who married Otto of Savoy
in 1046. Adelaide's children and grandchildren through Otto co-governed the march with her after Otto's death, but after her death in 1090, the comital authority of the city of Turin was invested in the bishop (1092) and the city itself was granted a commune
(1091). The margravial lands were absorbed into Savoy
, of which Turin became the eventual capital some centuries later.
In 1076, the Emperor Henry IV, at odds with most of the local nobility and the church, appointed his son Conrad Margrave of Turin at the age of two. This power was never effectual and the title was purely nominal, as he was his father's heir.
family.
941
Year 941 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Births :* Charles d'Outremer, son of Louis IV of France* Brian Bórumha mac Cennétig, High-King of Ireland...
by Hugh of Italy
Hugh of Italy
Hugh of Arles was King of Italy from 924 until his death. He was a Bosonid. During his reign, he empowered his relatives at the expense of the aristocracy and tried to establish a relationship with the Byzantine-Roman Empire...
, who appointed Arduin Glaber
Arduin Glaber
Arduin Glaber was the Count of Auriate from c. 935 and Margrave of Turin from c. 950. He placed his family, the Arduinici, on a firm foundation and established the march of Turin through conquests and royal concessions...
as its governor. Arduin had captured Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and the Susa Valley
Susa Valley
The Susa Valley is a valley in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, located between the Graian Alps in the north and the Cottian Alps in the south. It is the longest valley in Italy. It extends over in an east-west direction from the French border to the outskirts of Turin. The valley takes its...
from the Saracens. By subsequent conquests, Arduin came to govern a vast march with the margravial title (consistently used from 962
962
Year 962 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* February 2 – Pope John XII crowns Otto I the Great Holy Roman Emperor....
).
The march
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
, first called the marca Arduinica, was formed by a reorganisation of the territory of the regnum Italicum into three margraviates for three great families: the marca Arduinica, marca Aleramica, and marca Obertenga.
Ulric Manfred II
Ulric Manfred II of Turin
Ulric Manfred II was the Margrave of Turin and Susa in the early 11th century.- Biography:...
, the most powerful margrave, left the march to his daughter Adelaide
Adelaide of Susa
Adelaide of Susa was the Marchioness of Turin from 1034 to her death. She moved the seat of the march from Turin to Susa and settled the itinerant court there...
, who married Otto of Savoy
Otto of Savoy
Otto was Count of Savoy from 1051 until his death. He was son of Humbert I, the first Count of Savoy, and his wife Ancilla, and ascended the throne after the death of his elder brother, Amadeus I of Savoy.Otto substantially enlarged his lands through his marriage with Adelaide of Susa,...
in 1046. Adelaide's children and grandchildren through Otto co-governed the march with her after Otto's death, but after her death in 1090, the comital authority of the city of Turin was invested in the bishop (1092) and the city itself was granted a commune
Medieval commune
Medieval communes in the European Middle Ages had sworn allegiances of mutual defense among the citizens of a town or city. They took many forms, and varied widely in organization and makeup. Communes are first recorded in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, thereafter becoming a widespread...
(1091). The margravial lands were absorbed into Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
, of which Turin became the eventual capital some centuries later.
In 1076, the Emperor Henry IV, at odds with most of the local nobility and the church, appointed his son Conrad Margrave of Turin at the age of two. This power was never effectual and the title was purely nominal, as he was his father's heir.
Margraves
All the margraves were of the ArduiniciArduinici
The Arduinici were a noble Frankish family that immigrated to Italy in the early tenth century, possibly from Neustria. They were descended from and take their name after one Arduin ....
family.
- 962962Year 962 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* February 2 – Pope John XII crowns Otto I the Great Holy Roman Emperor....
– 977977Year 977 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Saint Æthelwold of Winchester, Bishop of Winchester, rebuilds the western end of the Old Minster, Winchester, with twin towers and no apses.* German emperor Otto II grants Lower Lorraine, where modern-day Brussels is...
Arduin GlaberArduin GlaberArduin Glaber was the Count of Auriate from c. 935 and Margrave of Turin from c. 950. He placed his family, the Arduinici, on a firm foundation and established the march of Turin through conquests and royal concessions... - 977977Year 977 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Saint Æthelwold of Winchester, Bishop of Winchester, rebuilds the western end of the Old Minster, Winchester, with twin towers and no apses.* German emperor Otto II grants Lower Lorraine, where modern-day Brussels is...
– 1000 Manfred IManfred I of TurinManfred I or Maginfred was the second Margrave of Turin from 977. He inherited the county of Auriate and the vast marca Arduinica in the Susa Valley from his father Arduin Glaber. In his reign, the marca extended from the Alps to the Ligurian Sea and the Po Valley. Under him, Pavia became a... - 1000 – 1034 Ulric Manfred IIUlric Manfred II of TurinUlric Manfred II was the Margrave of Turin and Susa in the early 11th century.- Biography:...
- 1034 – 1091 AdelaideAdelaide of SusaAdelaide of Susa was the Marchioness of Turin from 1034 to her death. She moved the seat of the march from Turin to Susa and settled the itinerant court there...
with her successive husbands...- 1037 – 1038 Herman IV, Duke of SwabiaHerman IV, Duke of SwabiaHerman IV was the Duke of Swabia . He was the second son of Ernest I and Gisela of Swabia. He was one of the Babenberg dukes of Swabia.Herman became duke in 1030 following the death of his older brother Ernest II...
- 1041 – 1045 Henry, Margrave of Montferrat
- 1046 – 1060 Otto, Count of Savoy
- 1037 – 1038 Herman IV, Duke of Swabia