Judicat
The Judicats (in Italian, Giudicati, of the medieval Latin , Judex Provincae ) were four areas of the medieval Sardinia which preserved a great autonomy between the 8th century (their creation is certain as of 851, thanks to a letter of the pope Leon IV which requires of the assistance of the Judices Sardinae ) and the 13th century.
Their structure rested on an administrative cutting of the Byzantine Empire, while Sardinia depended on the Exarchat of Africa, located with Carthage. The magistrate resident with Cagliari was called Praeses or Judex Provincae and had the civil government while a military command was entrusted to a Dux , installed in Forum Traiani to control the Barbagia. Quickly, each judicat, contrary to the feudal systems Unintermitting with, rested on a territory managed, named Logu (place) or Rennu (reign), with grounds of State, and was controlled according to the legal provisions romano-Byzantines.
They are the ceaseless raids and the permanent fight against the Sarrasins, which ended up insulating the island and caused an increasing autonomy of the judicats Byzantine capacity, too remote, so much so that they were regarded as independent and sovereign.
Their chiefs were the Judges (in Sarde, ludikes , in Italian, Giudici ), elected by the Corona de Logu (a Sardinian Parliament). Their names were north in the south:
- Logudoro (of Logu of gold), or Torres, around the town of Torres close to current the Oporto Torres;
- Gallura
- Raised, around the town of Oristano, after the abandonment of Tharros;
- Calaris (in Italian Cagliari) or Pluminos.
They gradually lost their independence between 1258 and 1410 because of the increasing presence of the Pisans and the Royaume of Aragon.
Most famous judicat is that of Arborée which maintained its independence until in 1410, in particular thanks to the character who was Éléonore d' Arborée.
See too