Savona

Who holds it

Name

not pinned (Ugo Del Carretto, Ottone's son, is podestà in 1202)

Title

Consuls or podestà of the commune of Savona

Confidence

low

Lord in 1200

Its own commune, free of the marquises since the purchase of 10 April 1191 and confirmed by Henry VI on 18 November 1191; the bishop of Savona is Boniface, Ottone Del Carretto's brother, elected 1193 (a Church map record).

How things stand that morning

Free commune; Genoa's sworn ally in name under the old conventions, rival in fact.

Charter

Freedom bought from Ottone Del Carretto, 10 April 1191 (the act was signed at the Brandale tower); Henry VI's diploma of 18 November 1191; conventions with Genoa of 1153 [terms not checked here]. The motto of the commune: Hoc habet ex coelis, quod sit Saona fidelis.

Council

Consuls of the commune [names for 1199-1200 not pinned]; a podestà is attested in 1202 (Ugo Del Carretto).

Communities

Merchant families of the commune; the Del Carretto keep close ties (Ottone promises in 1218 to own a house in Savona).

Militia

Citizen militia and a small war fleet [no numbers].

Walls and castle

The walled town round the Priamar hill (the cathedral and the bishop's seat) and the harbour; the Brandale tower.

Trade and crafts

Shipping and coastal trade; the road over the Cadibona pass to the Bormida and the Langhe, the shortest from the sea to Piedmont; shipbuilding.

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. 1202Ugo Del Carretto is podestà of Savona.Depends on: Good relations with the Del Carretto. Stopped by: A quarrel.
2. 1209Otto IV ratifies the del Bosco and Ponzone marquises' cession of their coastal fiefs to Savona.Depends on: Continued purchases. Stopped by: Genoese opposition.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: The 1191-1192 purchases and the diploma are dated; the officers of 1199-1200 and the exact contado are not pinned.