Trajan's harbour of Centumcellae, abandoned for an inland site in the ninth century and later resettled as 'the old city'.
In 1200 it is a minor port with its old harbour works; Corneto is the busier harbour of the coast. Luchaire counts it among the prefect's family castles about 1200; it.wikipedia makes the prefect Pietro of Vico its lord only under Alexander IV (1254-1261).
Who holds it
- Name
- The prefect of the City's house, by Luchaire (as cited by rom), who lists Civitavecchia among the prefect's castles; it.wikipedia puts the prefects' lordship of it only under Alexander IV (1254-1261)
- Title
- Lord or governing body
- Confidence
- low
Lord in 1200
The prefect of the City (The prefect), by Luchaire's list of the prefect's castles; not checked here.
How things stand that morning
Under the prefect's house, if Luchaire is right, and so under the pope's lordship. Across the borders: Corneto north, the Tolfa hills east, the Roman coast south (rom).
Charter
Not found.
Walls and castle
The Roman harbour and a small walled town.
Trade and crafts
Harbour, fishing, coastal shipping.
Where the sources disagree
- Luchaire (as cited by rom) lists Civitavecchia among the prefect's castles about 1200; it.wikipedia (Di Vico) dates the prefects' lordship to 1254-1261.
Evidence: No dated fact for 1199-1200 found; the later lordship of the prefects is on it.wikipedia (Di Vico).
Primary sources for Papal State
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
- Chronicle of Alberic of Trois-Fontaines, Alberic of Trois-Fontaines (about 1227 to 1241, at the Cistercian abbey of Trois-Fontaines in Champagne). The widest net of any Latin chronicle for 1200, compiled from dozens of sources, many now lost. Read online
- Chronicle of Andres, William of Andres (about 1220 to 1234). The chronicle and cartulary of a small abbey between Guines and Ardres, near the border of Flanders and Boulogne. 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 Robert of Auxerre, Robert of Auxerre (Robert of Saint-Marien) (about 1190 to 1211; continued at Saint-Marien to 1227). A universal chronicle whose last twenty years are contemporary and well informed from Burgundy and the Auxerrois. 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
12 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.