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

Osimo

Osimo (Roman Auximum) is an old hill city and bishop's see above the Musone, the strongest commune between Ancona and the Chienti, with a contado of castles running from the Aspio to the Musone and up toward the Esino hills.

Its sympathies were usually imperial: it helped Christian of Mainz against Ancona in the siege of 1172-1173. But in 1198 it went with the tide, joining Ancona's league against Markward and binding itself by a ten-year treaty to ship its goods through no port but Ancona's. In 1199 it made a first peace with Recanati after a quarrel over the land between them.

On 1 January 1200 Osimo is at peace, a league member under the pope's overlordship; within two years it will be at war with Ancona.

Who holds it

Title
Consuls of Osimo
Since
not pinned
Confidence
low

Osimo was one of the first communes of the March (early twelfth century); no consul or podestà is named for 1199-1200 in the sources read.

Lord in 1200

The commune, under papal overlordship; its bishop holds Cingoli as a fief.

Overlord

The pope, by its oath of 1198.

Allies and rivals

Allies: Ancona by the treaty and league of 1198. Rivals: Recanati (peace of 1199); Ancona, whose port monopoly it will soon resent.

How things stand that morning

A league member at peace, under papal overlordship. Ancona holds the land east of the Aspio; Jesi the middle Esino; Recanati the land toward the Potenza.

Wealth

A rich farming contado; its bishop's fief of Cingoli.

Military

The castles of its contado (not pinned individually for 1200).

Threats

  • The Ancona port treaty turning into a grievance
  • Recanati's rivalry

Charter

The treaty with Ancona of 1198 (ten years): Osimo's trade to pass through Ancona's port. The peace with Recanati of 1199 (terms not pinned).

Council

Consuls and a council (names not pinned).

Communities

Not documented.

Militia

Citizen militia and the men of its castles.

Walls and castle

A walled hill city on the line of its Roman walls.

Trade and crafts

Grain, wine and oil of the hills between the Esino and the Musone, shipped through Ancona under the 1198 treaty.

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.

In 1200

  1. 1201 (not 1200)War with Ancona, with Jesi, Fermo and Fano on Osimo's side.Depends on: The port treaty and the league breaking down. Stopped by: Papal arbitration.

Later, on the likely course

  1. 18 January 1202Concord of Polverigi, sworn with Recanati and the other towns under Innocent III's pressure.Depends on: The war of 1201. Stopped by: No war.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: The 1198 treaty, the league and the war of 1201 are from the Federiciana; the 1199 peace with Recanati from the Enciclopedia Italiana (Recanati); the government is not documented for 1200.

On the map: A guessed contado between the Aspio and the Musone; which castles (Castelfidardo, Filottrano, Montefano) were Osimo's on 1 January 1200 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. Ancona, Enciclopedia Federiciana (A. Meriggi, 2005)
  2. Recanati, Enciclopedia Italiana (1935)
  3. Osimo, Enciclopedia Italiana

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