An island town tied to the shore by a causeway, Justinopolis of the Byzantine age, and the chief town of northern Istria, with salt pans and the market for the Karst.
With Isola it opposed Venice in 1145, was defeated, and swore fidelity to Doge Pietro Polani at the Rialto, so it owes the doge service at sea and protection for Venetian merchants. Its commune is first recorded in 1186. A bishopric was set up again in 1186, under Aquileia. It falls to the patriarchs only from 1232 and to Venice in 1278-79.
Who holds it
- Title
- The commune (consuls not pinned), under the margrave's nominal authority and bound to Venice by oath
- Confidence
- low
Lord in 1200
The commune governs itself under the nominal authority of Margrave Berthold IV; its bishop (restored 1186) is a Church map record.
How things stand that morning
Self-governing under its consuls on 1 January 1200, sworn to Venice since 1145, nominally in the march.
Charter
Oath of fidelity to Doge Pietro Polani, 1145. Commune recorded from 1186. Imperial city status granted by Conrad II in 1035.
Council
Consuls (not pinned for 1200).
Walls and castle
Walls on the island; the causeway to the mainland.
Trade and crafts
Salt from the pans round the island; wine and oil; the trade of the Karst roads.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: 1145 and 1035 from Italian Wikipedia (Storia dell'Istria; Capodistria); 1186 from English Wikipedia (Godfrey); offices for 1200 not pinned.
Sources and studies
- Storia dell'Istria (Italian Wikipedia)
- Capodistria (Italian Wikipedia)
- Godfrey (patriarch of Aquileia) (English Wikipedia)
- Istria (Enciclopedia Italiana, Treccani)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.