Malaspina

Who he is

Name

Alberto Malaspina (Alberto Moro), with his nephews Guglielmo (son of Moroello, died 1220) and Corrado (son of Obizzone, born about 1180, died 1254)

Title

Marquis Malaspina

Since

1193 (death of Obizzone); Alberto acts with his nephews from 1197

Born

Alberto about 1160-1165

Family

Malaspina (Obertenghi)

Confidence

medium

See the realm record Malaspina; DBI life of Alberto.

Overlord

The emperor; Genoa (vassalage renewed 1199); Piacenza, the bishop of Tortona and the abbey of Bobbio for particular fiefs

What it holds

• The Staffora valley (Oramala, Varzi)
• The upper Trebbia (Ottone, Gorreto, Fontanigorda, Rovegno)
• The Val Borbera (Cabella, Carrega, Rocchetta, Cantalupo, Albera); half of Mongiardino of the bishop of Tortona
• The Aveto (Santo Stefano) [not pinned]
• The middle Lunigiana (Mulazzo, Villafranca, Filattiera, Bagnone, Malgrate, Tresana, Podenzana, Olivola) and the lands acquired from the Este, claimed in part by the bishop of Luni

How it was acquired

Obertenghi inheritance; Frederick I's confirmation of 1164; the Peace of Constance (1183).

Allies and rivals

Piacenza, Milan, Tortona and Genoa as allies or lords; the bishop of Luni, Pontremoli, Parma and Pavia as rivals.

How things stand that morning

Held in common; at peace with Genoa since 1199, at odds with the bishop of Luni and Pontremoli.

Wealth

Road tolls on the Apennine passes and the Magra road.

Military

Castles in each valley; small field forces (Alberto led Tortona's army in 1198).

Threats

• Piacenza's purchases
• the bishop of Luni
• Genoa's control of the coast roads

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. 1200 (month not pinned)Alliance with Piacenza and Milan against Parma and Pavia renewed; free passage of goods in the Lunigiana guaranteed.Depends on: Peace with Genoa and the Piacenza alliance. Stopped by: War with Parma or Pavia going badly.

Places of note

• Oramala: Family castle [coordinates approximate]

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Dated acts in the DBI; castle-by-castle holdings in 1200 not pinned.

On the map: Blocks drawn from the 1164 diploma, the 1221 division and later evidence.

Primary sources for Malaspina

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