The county of Sangro holds the high upper Sangro valley and its passes between the Valva, the Marsica and the Molise: Castel di Sangro, the high plains of the Cinque Miglia, and the castles toward Alfedena and the Sagittario gorge at Anversa.
In the mid-twelfth century it was one of the counties of the Abruzzi (Count Simon in the Catalogus baronum). By Frederick II's minority it was in the orbit of the Celano family through Rainaldo of Anversa, Peter of Celano's son-in-law. The count on 1 January 1200 is not pinned.
Who he is
- Name
- Not pinned. The Catalogus baronum (1150s-1168) names a Count Simon of Sangro and Count Philip of Sangro rebelled in 1160; later Thomas of Celano controlled the county through his brother-in-law Rainaldo of Anversa (DBI, Tommaso di Celano), but when Rainaldo's lordship began is not pinned
- Title
- Count of Sangro (comes de Sangro)
- Since
- not pinned
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- The Sangro, a branch of the Borrello lords of the upper Sangro and Trigno
- Confidence
- low
Medieval Lands and the DBI life of Thomas of Celano; it.wikipedia (Anversa degli Abruzzi).
Overlord
The crown of Sicily.
What it holds
- Castel di Sangro and the upper Sangro valley (Alfedena, Roccaraso, Pescocostanzo, Ateleta; not pinned for 1200)
- Anversa and the Sagittario valley, if Rainaldo of Anversa already holds it
Allies and rivals
Peter of Celano (through Rainaldo of Anversa, his son-in-law); the Molise to the south-east.
How things stand that morning
Royal ground under its count or barons; quiet as far as the sources show.
Wealth
The great drove roads from the Abruzzi to Apulia cross the upper Sangro; summer pastures.
Military
Mountain castles; no figures.
Threats
- The war in the Molise spilling over the passes
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.
- 1200No dated event of 1200 is known for this lordship.Depends on: nothing Stopped by: nothing
Places of note
- Castel di Sangro: Chief castle of the upper Sangro
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Twelfth-century register and later notices; no holder found for 1200.
On the map: Extent of the county in 1200 not pinned.
Primary sources for Sicily
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 Montecassino; Annals of Ceccano (Fossanova) (12th and early 13th centuries; Ceccano to 1217). Two sets of annals from either side of the papal and Sicilian frontier. Read online
- Chronicle of Richard of San Germano, Richard of San Germano (first version about 1216, enlarged to 1243). The fullest southern narrative of the Hohenstaufen kingdom, written by a notary on the border of the Terra di Lavoro. Read online
- Annals of Genoa, by Caffaro and his continuators, with Ogerio Pane for 1197 to 1219, Ogerio Pane and the other official annalists of Genoa (year by year under the commune's authority; the 1197 to 1219 section by Ogerio Pane). The official record of the commune. 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 Roger of Howden, Roger of Howden (about 1192 to 1201). The fullest single narrative for the year. Read online
- Chronicle of Sicard, bishop of Cremona, Sicard of Cremona (about 1210 to 1213). A universal chronicle whose last part is a well-placed eyewitness account by a Lombard bishop who served emperors and popes. Read online
- The Deeds of Innocent III, Anonymous (a curial official, perhaps Peter of Benevento) (about 1208 to 1209). The curia's own account of the pontificate's first decade, with letters copied in. Read online
7 more in the sources library for Southern Italy and the Islands.
Sources and studies
- 'Celano, Tommaso di', Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (treccani.it)
- Medieval Lands: Central Italy (counties in Abruzzo), fmg.ac
- Anversa degli Abruzzi (it.wikipedia)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.