A walled market town that grew in the eleventh century round the church of San Severino on the pilgrim road to the Gargano, quickly important thanks to its trade.
It belongs to the abbey of Terra Maggiore, which gave it a charter in 1116. Enlargements of its churches begin around 1200.
Who holds it
- Name
- The abbot of San Pietro di Terra Maggiore (a Church map record); abbot's name not pinned
- Title
- Abbey town
- Confidence
- medium
Lord in 1200
The Benedictine abbey of San Pietro di Terra Maggiore (Torremaggiore), whose abbot Adenulf granted the townsmen a charter of liberties (Charta Libertatis) in 1116. It becomes a royal town only later (it is royal when it rebels against Frederick II in 1230).
How things stand that morning
Under the abbot of Terra Maggiore within the regency's kingdom; no record of fighting that winter.
Charter
Charta Libertatis of Abbot Adenulf, 1116.
Trade and crafts
Market on the pilgrim road to Monte Sant'Angelo; grain and wine of the northern Tavoliere.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: it.wikipedia (San Severo).
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.