The Ardengheschi are counts of the hills between Siena and Grosseto, centred on Civitella (Civitella Ardenghesca, now Civitella Marittima) and Pari.
Siena has fought them since 1151 and bought Orgia from them in 1156; on 1 January 1200 they have not yet submitted (that comes by force of arms in 1202). Countess Tabernaria of the Alberti is the daughter of a Bernardo da Fornoli, perhaps of this country (not pinned).
Who he is
- Name
- The Ardengheschi counts; heads in 1200 not pinned
- Title
- Counts in the Val di Merse and the middle Ombrone
- Family
- Ardengheschi
- Confidence
- low
it.wikipedia (Ardengheschi): at odds with Siena from 1151; sold Orgia to Siena in 1156; definitive submission to Siena by force of arms in 1202; oath of loyalty in 1213, keeping privileges over part of their lands.
Overlord
The Empire; Siena claims them.
What it holds
- Civitella (Ardenghesca)
- Pari
- Other castles of the Val di Merse and middle Ombrone (names for 1200 not pinned)
How it was acquired
Comital lineage of the Sienese Maremma.
Allies and rivals
Siena (enemy since 1151); the Aldobrandeschi south; the Pannocchieschi west (tuw).
How things stand that morning
Holding out against Siena's claims.
Wealth
Hill castles, woods and pasture.
Military
Castles and kindred knights.
Threats
- Siena's conquest (1202)
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1202 (beyond 1200)Definitive submission to Siena by force of arms.Depends on: Siena's peace with Florence (1201) freeing its host Stopped by: Aldobrandeschi or Pisan help
Places of note
- Civitella: Ardengheschi castle
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Dates of the conflict known; members and castles in 1200 not found.
On the map: Core only.
Primary sources for Empire
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Marbach (compiled to 1238, the section on 1198 to 1210 written in the early 13th century). Alsatian annals on the Staufen side of the Upper Rhine. Read online
- Annals of Reiner of Saint James, Liège, Reiner of Liège (1197 to 1230, kept year by year). Contemporary annals kept inside Liège. Read online
- Chronicle of Burchard of Ursberg, Burchard of Ursberg (about 1229 to 1230, reworked by Conrad of Lichtenau). Written a generation later by a fierce partisan of the Staufen and a critic of Innocent III. Read online
- Chronicle of Otto of St Blasien, Otto of St Blasien (about 1209 to 1210). A Swabian continuation of Otto of Freising written from the Staufen side. Read online
- Chronicle of Reinhardsbrunn; Chronicle of St Peter's, Erfurt (Erfurt chronicle in the 13th century; Reinhardsbrunn compilation about 1340 to 1349 from older annals). The two Thuringian chronicles. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. Read online
- Royal Chronicle of Cologne (in stages from about 1175 to about 1250; the section on 1198 to 1220 written soon after the events). The fullest German narrative of the throne war from the Welf and Cologne side. Read online
- Chronicle of Hainaut, Gislebert of Mons (about 1195 to 1196). Ends in 1195, so it has no 1200 entries, but it is the indispensable background for Flanders and Hainaut: the career of Count Baldwin V of Hainaut (VIII of Flanders), his union of the two counties, the settlement with Philip over Artois, the rights, castles, fiefs and vassals of Hainaut listed by a man who ran its chancery, and the youth of Baldwin IX, who held both counties in 1200. Read online
8 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.