Counts · The Papal State: the pope's own lands · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Counts Attoni

A family of rural counts in the Apennine valleys round Fabriano and Matelica, of the kind the March towns were busy swallowing.

After Christian of Mainz wrecked Matelica (1174-1175), the sons of an elder Count Atto swore fidelity, apparently to the rebuilt commune. About 1199 a later Count Atto turned on Matelica and put together the league of Camerino, Fabriano, San Severino, Tolentino, Cingoli, Recanati and Civitanova that destroyed the town. On 1 January 1200 he is presumably the strongest lord in the hills round the ruined town, allied with Fabriano and Camerino, though which castles he holds is not documented.

Who he is

Name
Count Atto (Attone), descendant of the elder Count Atto whose sons swore fidelity after 1174
Title
Count
Since
not pinned
Born
Not pinned
Family
A comital house of the uplands between Fabriano, Sassoferrato and Matelica; in the twelfth century the counts Atto held the castle of Precicchie (now in Fabriano's territory) before it passed to the Rovellone (date not pinned).
Confidence
low

The Italian Wikipedia history of Matelica says the sons of Count Atto swore fidelity after 1174 and that a later Count Atto organised the league that destroyed Matelica about 1199; the Italian Wikipedia history of Fabriano names the counts Atto as twelfth-century holders of Precicchie. Neither gives the count's own name beyond Atto or his castles in 1200. Whether this house is the ancestor of the later Atti of Sassoferrato is not pinned.

Overlord

The pope, as lord of the March; earlier the emperor.

What it holds

  • Castles in the hills between Fabriano and Matelica (not pinned for 1200)
  • Precicchie (held by the counts Atto in the twelfth century; whether still theirs in 1200 is not pinned)

How it was acquired

Inherited comital lordship of the eleventh and twelfth centuries (not documented in detail).

Allies and rivals

Allies: Camerino, Fabriano, San Severino, Tolentino, Cingoli, Recanati and Civitanova in the league of 1199. Rival: Matelica.

How things stand that morning

A count of the March under papal overlordship, victor over Matelica in 1199 [thin].

Wealth

Castles, mills and dues of the upland valleys (not documented).

Military

His own men and castles; leader of the 1199 league against Matelica [thin].

Threats

  • The communes of Fabriano and Camerino absorbing the rural lords
  • Matelica's revenge if it is rebuilt

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.

  1. 1209 (not 1200)The Matelicesi, appealing to Otto IV, are allowed to rebuild their town.Depends on: A new emperor's favour. Stopped by: The league towns holding Matelica's land.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Known only from the Italian Wikipedia histories of Matelica and Fabriano, which cite no document for 1199; the Matelica account also contains a clear error (it has 'Frederick II' make peace with the pope in 1185).

On the map: Not drawn: the count's castles in 1200 are not known.

Primary sources for Papal State

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.

12 more in the sources library for Southern Italy and the Islands.

Sources and studies

  1. Matelica (it.wikipedia)
  2. Fabriano (it.wikipedia)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.