Adelasia of Torres facts for kids
Adelasia (born 1207, died 1259) was an important ruler in Sardinia during the 13th century. She was the eldest child of Marianus II, who was the Judge of Logudoro. After her brother Barisone III died in 1236, Adelasia became the Judge of Logudoro herself. Later, in 1238, she also became the Judge of Gallura. These "Judges" were like rulers of small kingdoms in Sardinia, called giudicati.
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Adelasia's First Marriage
Adelasia's father, Marianus II, made an agreement with Lamberto Visconti, who was the ruler of Gallura from the city of Pisa. In 1219, Adelasia married Lamberto's son, Ubaldo II, who was set to inherit Gallura.
Pope Honorius III was not happy about this marriage because he was against the Pisans. He tried to cancel the marriage, but he was not successful. The agreement between Pisa and Logudoro remained in place.
Becoming a Ruler
Ubaldo II became the Judge of Gallura in 1225. Adelasia's father, Marianus, died in 1232. In his will, he said his son Barisone III should rule next.
When Barisone died in 1236 without children, Marianus's will said that the important people of Logudoro could choose one of his daughters, Adelasia or Benedetta, to rule. They all chose Adelasia. Her husband, Ubaldo, was also chosen as a ruler alongside her.
In 1237, Pope Gregory IX sent a special messenger to Adelasia. The Pope wanted Adelasia to promise that Logudoro would be under his authority. He also wanted her to recognize his power over lands she inherited from her grandfather, William of Cagliari, in Pisa, Massa, and Corsica.
At her palace in Ardara, Adelasia swore to be loyal to the Pope. Ubaldo also agreed. He gave the castle of Monte Acuto to the local bishop as a promise. However, Ubaldo only recognized the authority of the church in Pisa over Gallura, not the Pope directly.
A New Marriage and a Kingdom
Ubaldo II died in 1237. In his will, he said that his cousin, John Visconti, should inherit Gallura. After Ubaldo's death, Peter II of Arborea became Adelasia's protector.
Adelasia quickly married again to Guelfo dei Porcari, who was loyal to the Pope. However, he did not live long.
Around this time, the Doria family from Genoa, who were rivals of Pisa, convinced the Emperor Frederick II to get involved. The Emperor wanted his son, Enzo, to marry Adelasia. Their plan was to create a new Kingdom of Sardinia with Enzo and Adelasia as King and Queen.
Enzo arrived from Cremona in October of the same year Ubaldo died. He and Adelasia were married and given the titles of King and Queen of Sardinia. Enzo left for the Italian mainland in July 1239 and never returned. He was captured by the Guelphs, a group that opposed the Emperor, and remained a prisoner for the rest of his life. Around 1245 or 1246, Adelasia's marriage to Enzo was officially ended.
Later Life and Legacy
After her marriage to Enzo ended, Adelasia was very sad and tired of ruling. She decided to retire to her castle of Goceano.
Adelasia died in 1259. She did not have any children. After her death, her lands were divided among several powerful families: the Doria, Malaspina, and Spinola families. These families were all connected to Genoa. The nearby Giudicato of Arborea also managed to take some land.
The city of Sassari forced out its Pisan ruler with help from the Doria family. The city strengthened its defenses and became a republic, like a self-governing city, allied with Genoa. Genoa would send an annual podestà, who was like a chief magistrate, to help govern Sassari.
