Giudicato of Arborea: Map & History
The Judicate of Arborea or the Kingdom of Arborea was one of the four independent judicates into which the island of Sardinia was divided in the Middle Ages.
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The Judicate of Arborea or the Kingdom of Arborea was one of the four independent judicates into which the island of Sardinia was divided in the Middle Ages. It occupied the central-west portion of the island, wedged between Logudoro to the north and east, Cagliari to the south and east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. To the northeast of Logudoro was Gallura, with which Arborea had far less interaction. Arborea outlasted her neighbours, surviving well into the 15th century. At its greatest territorial extent it occupied the entire island except the cities of Alghero and Cagliari. The earliest known judicial seat was Tharros, though Oristano served as capital for most of its existence.
Modern Countries Once Part of Giudicato of Arborea
At its mapped extent, Giudicato of Arborea covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Giudicato of Arborea's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Giudicato of Arborea in Depth
Origins
Sardinia was an imperial province of the Byzantine Empire until the early 9th century, when the aggressive expansion and relentless piracy of the Arabs and Berbers of North Africa left the central authorities of the Empire unable to effectively defend or consistently govern the island. The local Byzantine magistrates, entitled iudici, meaning "judges", were increasingly left to provide for their own administration and defense. A single and autonomous archontate was established in the island. Later in the 11th century, the single archontate fragmented into 4 judicates, including Arborea. Maintaining the traditional forms and patterns of the imperial bureaucracy, the island's iudicati, originally a type of administrative sub-division, became autonomous states ruled by iudices.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Judicate of Arborea (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Giudicato of Arborea: Key Facts
| Official language | Sardinian |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Sardinian medieval kingdoms |
| Founded | 8th century |
| Dissolved | 1420 |
Succeeded by
- Kingdom of Sardinia
Facts from Wikidata Q1241847 (CC0).
Giudicato of Arborea Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Giudicato of Arborea appears, with the other states of the time.
Giudicato of Arborea Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 26,138 km² in 1418 CE.
Giudicato of Arborea: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Giudicato of Arborea exist?
Giudicato of Arborea is dated to 866 CE – 1421 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Giudicato of Arborea?
The capital of Giudicato of Arborea was Tharros, (until 1070), Oristano, (1070–1410), Sassari, (1410–1420).
How large was Giudicato of Arborea at its peak?
At its peak in 1418 AD Giudicato of Arborea covered about 26,138 km².
How did the map of Giudicato of Arborea change over time?
Giudicato of Arborea appears on 6 dated world maps in the atlas, from 900 CE to 1400 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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