Arborea's districts as the judges' kingdom, grouped as the later lists give them: the three Campidani round Oristano, the southern districts of the Marmilla and the Arburese, the centre on the Tirso, and the mountain Barbagias.
On 1 January 1200 they are governed in the judges' name while Peter is a prisoner, Hugh is William of Massa's client and William's men hold the main fortresses. Half of the kingdom is promised to Hugh as Preziosa's dowry; which half is not pinned.
Who he is
- Name
- Peter I (a prisoner) and Hugh I of Bas (bound to William of Massa by pact)
- Title
- Co-judges of Arborea
- Since
- Peter 1185; Hugh co-judge from 1192
- Born
- Hugh about 1178
- Family
- Lacon-Serra; Hugh of the viscounts of Bas (Cervera)
- Confidence
- medium
See Arborea
Overlord
The pope claims to protect Arborea; William of Massa is master in fact.
What it holds
- Campidano Maggiore, Campidano of Simaxis, Campidano of Milis (Oristano)
- Bonorzuli, Parte Montis, Usellus and the Marmilla
- Parte Valenza, Guilcer and Barigadu
- Mandrolisai and the Barbagias of Austis, Belvì and Ollolai
How it was acquired
Inheritance; the accord of 1192 for Hugh.
Allies and rivals
See Arborea.
How things stand that morning
Governed in the judges' name under William of Massa's control; no fighting that winter.
Wealth
Grain of the Campidani and the Marmilla; lagoon fish and salt; mountain flocks.
Military
No independent field force recorded.
Threats
- Partition
- Continued occupation
Places of note
- Oristano: Capital, archbishop's seat
- Tharros (abandoned): Old capital, abandoned in the later eleventh century
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The districts are from later lists; the political situation from the DBI.
On the map: District groups from later lists; status 'occupied' because the judges govern under William of Massa's control.
Primary sources for Arborea
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 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
- Annals of Pisa, by Bernardo Maragone, with continuation, Bernardo Maragone (1160s to 1175, continued to 1192). Pisa's official annals stop in 1175 and their continuation in 1192, so there is no Pisan narrative for 1200 itself. Read online
- The register of San Pietro di Silki (11th to 13th centuries). A monastic register of lands, serfs, gifts and lawsuits in the giudicato of Torres (Logudoro), written in the vernacular.
Sources and studies
- Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: GUGLIELMO di Massa (Salusio IV), giudice di Cagliari
- Giudicato di Arborea (it.wikipedia)
- Peter I of Arborea (en.wikipedia)
- Hugh I of Arborea (en.wikipedia)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.