Marianus II ( Sardinian: ''Marianu II'', Italian: ''Mariano II'') (died 1297) was the

Judge of Arborea The Kings or ''Judges'' (from the Latin language, Latin ''iudices'' and the Sardinian language, Sardinian ', "judges," the title of the Byzantine officials left behind when Imperial power receded in the West) of the Kingdom of Arborea, Arborea ...

from 1241 to his death. With skilled military action, he came to control more than half of the island of Sardinia. By his control of the vast central plains and the rich deposits of precious metals, he increased the riches of his Judicate and staved off the general economic decline affecting the rest of Europe at the time.

Biography

He was the son and successor of

Peter II of Arborea Peter II (died 1241) was the Judge of Arborea from 1221 to his death. He was also Peter IV, Viscount of Bas. He was "pious and submissive to the church" and his extensive "donations of privileges and judicial lands impoverished his state of glory." ...

of the

Bas-Serra family The Viscounty of Besalú, or Bas (from the Latin ''Basso''), was the sub-comital authority in the county of Besalú during the Middle Ages. It was ruled by the House of Cervera (also called ''Cerveró(n)'' or ''Cervelló(n)'', from the Latin ''Cerv ...

and a local woman named Sardinia. He succeeded to the throne at a young age under the regency of

William of Capraia William of Capraia (died 1264) was the regent for Marianus II of Arborea from 1241 until his death, being entitled " Judge" from 1250 on. Biography He was the son of Ugo degli Alberti of the Counts of Capraia and Bina, the first wife of Peter I ...

, a distant relative. William was the son of Bina de Lacon, widow of Peter I, and

Hugh of Capraia Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

, Count of

Prato Prato ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city lies in the north east of Tuscany, at the foot of Monte Retaia, elevation , the last peak in the Calvana chain. With more than 200,000 i ...

. William and his brothers Anselm and Berthold were pupils at the court of Peter II, who designated William regent for his son. On William's death in 1264, Marianus did not take the full reins of power, but instead had to recognize the co-dominion of William's son

Nicholas Nicholas is a male given name and a surname. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglicanism, Anglican Churches celebrate Saint Nicholas every year on December 6, which is the name day for "Nicholas". In Greece, the n ...

. In 1270, he imprisoned Nicholas, and in 1274 had him killed and began to govern himself, though he was soon opposed by Berthold's son Anselm, who held Cagliari. Marianus was a close ally of the Republic of Pisa, the most powerful force on Sardinia in the mid-thirteenth century, and received Pisan citizenship on 17 June 1265. He often lived in Pisa and there he met his wife, a daughter of Andreotto Saraceno Caldera. In 1287, he married his son John with Giacomina, daughter of

Ugolino della Gherardesca Ugolino della Gherardesca (March 1289), Count of Donoratico, was an Italian nobleman, politician and naval commander. He was frequently accused of treason and features prominently in Dante's ''Divine Comedy''. Biography In the 13th century, the ...

, of whom he was a partisan. Marianus was widowed by 1293. In 1274, he embarked on a series of belligerent adventures to extend his power into Cagliari and Logudoro. He conquered the castle of Monforte on the

Nurra The Nurra is a geographical region in the northwest of Sardinia, Italy. It is the second largest plain of the island, located between the towns of Sassari, Porto Torres and Alghero. It covers a surface of 700 km² and is bounded by the S ...

and restored it, leaving an epigraph now in the museum of

Sassari Sassari (, ; sdc, Sàssari ; sc, Tàtari, ) is an Italian city and the second-largest of Sardinia in terms of population with 127,525 inhabitants, and a Functional Urban Area of about 260,000 inhabitants. One of the oldest cities on the island, ...

. In 1277, his conquests were recognised by Pope John XXI. He had annexed part of Montiferru as far as

Monte Acuto Monte may refer to: Places Argentina * Argentine Monte, an ecoregion * Monte Desert * Monte Partido, a ''partido'' in Buenos Aires Province Italy * Monte Bregagno * Monte Cassino * Montecorvino (disambiguation) * Montefalcione Portugal * Mont ...

with all its castles. He thus divided the Logudorese Judicate into a south and north. He was appointed vicar general of Logudoro. In 1284, Marianus solicited the aid of

Peter III of Aragon Peter III of Aragon ( November 1285) was King of Aragon, King of Valencia (as ), and Count of Barcelona (as ) from 1276 to his death. At the invitation of some rebels, he conquered the Kingdom of Sicily and became King of Sicily in 1282, pres ...

to retake Cagliari. In 1287, Anselm was defeated and killed. On 4 January 1295, he made a political about turn and left the third part of Cagliari to Pisa. A little later, he took part with his

Gherardeschi The House della Gherardesca was an old noble family of the Republic of Pisa, dating back as early as the 11th century of Longobard origin. They were an important one of the most prominent initially in Pisa, then of Volterra and eventually and of F ...

in-laws in the siege of

Villa di Chiesa Iglesias (, ; from ; sc, Igrèsias) is a ''comune'' and city in the province of South Sardinia, Italy. It was co-capital of the province of Carbonia-Iglesias with Carbonia, and the province's second-largest community. Under Spanish control Igle ...

, defended by the Guelphs of Donoratico. He was wounded and took refuge in San Leonardo di Siete Fuentes, where, according to some sources, he was poisoned in 1297 by the Pisans who wanted to extend their authority in Cagliari to the Argentiera of Cixerri. Asides from his son and successor, John, he left a daughter and an illegitimate son named Barisone (died 1305).

Sources

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Marianus 02 Of Arborea 1297 deaths Judges (judikes) of Arborea Year of birth unknown