The crown holds Naples through its two castles, the Castel Capuano by the land gate and the sea castle on the islet of the Saviour, and through the compalazzo court, which collects the king's dues and services and judges civil and criminal cases with judges drawn from the city's nobles.
Around 1200 no royal official is named in the sources; the archbishop, Anselm, is the city's point of reference and backs Innocent III's cause, and the nobles Peter Cottone and Geoffrey of Montefuscolo lead its affairs. Geoffrey is made captain against Diepold and for the war on Cuma (date not pinned, before 1207).
Who he is
- Name
- Not pinned. No royal officer or castellan of Naples is attested for 1199-1200 (Federiciana). The men who lead the city are Archbishop Anselm, Count Peter Cottone and Geoffrey (Goffredo) of Montefuscolo. Aligerno Cottone acted as compalazzo in May 1190.
- Title
- Royal castellans of the Castel Capuano and of the Castle of the Saviour on the sea (Castel dell'Ovo); the compalazzo (comes palatii) and his court of judges
- Since
- Not pinned
- Born
- Not pinned
- Family
- The Neapolitan nobility supplies the judges of the compalazzo court.
- Confidence
- low
Federiciana on Napoli.
Overlord
The king; in practice the regency.
What it holds
- Castel Capuano
- The Castle of the Saviour (Castel dell'Ovo)
- The compalazzo court and the king's dues in the city
How it was acquired
Royal since Roger II took the city (1139-1140).
Allies and rivals
The city and its archbishop; Aversa (allied with Naples against Cuma); enemies: Diepold at Acerra; the raiders of Cuma.
How things stand that morning
Held for the king; the city keeps to the regency and the pope.
Wealth
The king's dues on the port and markets of Naples.
Military
Two royal castles and the city militia; no numbers in the sources.
Threats
- Diepold's men at Acerra, a few miles away
- raiders from Cuma
Places of note
- Castel Capuano: Royal castle by the land gate
- Castle of the Saviour (Castel dell'Ovo): Royal sea castle on the islet of Megaride
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The Federiciana says no consuls or royal officers are attested for these years.
On the map: The castles stand inside the city; Naples and its land are drawn in the town record Naples.
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
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.