City · The Papal State: the pope's own lands · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Jesi

Jesi (Roman Aesis) is a walled bishop's town on a terrace above the Esino, at the crossroads of the valley road from the Apennines and the routes to Ancona.

Its commune (the 'Respublica Aesina') is taking the castles of the Esino valley from their lay and Church lords, which sets it against Ancona over the lower valley from Chiaravalle to the sea. Jesi was loyal to the Empire, and it was in a tent in its square that the Empress Constance gave birth to Frederick, the boy who is now king of Sicily, on 26 December 1194. Early in 1199 the papal legates made an agreement with Jesi to raise troops against Markward.

On 1 January 1200 it is a commune under papal overlordship, not at war as far as the sources show; in 1201 it will fight Ancona.

Who holds it

Title
Consuls of Jesi (the 'Respublica Aesina')
Since
not pinned
Confidence
low

Italian Wikipedia dates the commune to 1130; no officer is named for 1199-1200.

Lord in 1200

The commune, under papal overlordship.

Overlord

The pope, by its agreement with the legates early in 1199.

Allies and rivals

The pope's legates (agreement of early 1199). Rival: Ancona over the lower Esino. Neighbours: Senigallia, Osimo, Cingoli, Fabriano.

How things stand that morning

Commune under papal overlordship, conquering its contado. Ancona holds the coast; Osimo the land south of the Esino hills; Cingoli and Fabriano the uplands.

Wealth

The Esino valley's farmland and mills.

Military

Walls and the castles it has taken (not pinned individually).

Threats

  • Ancona's claim to the lower Esino
  • The Church and lay lords whose castles it is taking

Charter

Not pinned for 1200 (the title of royal city comes from Frederick II later).

Council

Consuls and a council; statutes and a palace of the commune in the thirteenth century.

Communities

Not documented.

Militia

Citizen militia and the men of the castles (the 'Castelli di Jesi').

Walls and castle

A fortified town on its terrace, walls on the Roman line; the square of San Floriano before the cathedral.

Trade and crafts

Grain and wine of the Esino valley; the valley road to Fabriano and Matelica.

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. 1201 (not 1200)War with Ancona beside Osimo, Fermo and Fano; concord of Polverigi on 18 January 1202.Depends on: The Esino valley quarrel. Stopped by: Papal arbitration.

Places of note

  • Square of San Floriano: Where Frederick was born in a tent on 26 December 1194.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Frederick's birth is thick (Federiciana); the 1199 agreement from the Dizionario Biografico (Giovanni di San Paolo); the commune's officers are not documented.

On the map: The later 'Castelli di Jesi' are a guide only; in 1200 the commune was still conquering them, and which it held is not pinned.

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.

12 more in the sources library for Southern Italy and the Islands.

Sources and studies

  1. Iesi, Enciclopedia Federiciana
  2. Jesi (it.wikipedia)
  3. GIOVANNI di San Paolo, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani 56 (2001)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.