De Jure Sardinia and the County of Arborea
Sardinia is often an afterthought. It wasn't fought after so viciously between Muslims and Christians like Sicily was or important cultural centers for the greeks, or 'romans' as they liked to call themselves, like Crete or Cyprus or Rhodes. This would not stop it though. Soon, Sardinia would thrust itself into the position of being a major player in the European game of politics. It would become a dangerous threat to the heathens that called the lands to the east and south home. This was the dream of Angelo I Di Jardinia, Count of Arborea. Angelo was a hard-working, pious man, who despite his weak physical stature had worked his way up from a lowborn child working in the court of Doge Gentile I of Pisa to ruler of his own proper county on the isle of Sardinia at the tender age of 16. He did not know what he had done to impress the Doge, but he would try his hardest not to betray the trust that Gentile had given him.
Count Angelo I of Arborea, first of the Di Jardinia Dynasty
Angelo reviewed the court that had been supplied to him by the Doge, and while expectedly his liege had not left him the cream of the crop, there were most definitely a few talented men who could be put to good use. Among these men was Bonaventura di Sassari, a native man of Arborea whose family had long standing ties in the capital. He was a man who could persuade another to believe almost anything he argued in conversation or scribed in a letter. This man was sent to the southern county of Cagliari to dig up some scrap of proof that Sardinia was to be united, and it was to be under Di Jardinian rule. The spy assigned to deal with all matters of subterfuge and intrigue in his court was also quite cunning. He was sent to Constantinople to attempt to steal the technology from the Orthodox heretics.His army, was however, less impressive. It seemed fitting that the Doge had given Angelo, a young man famed for his weakness, the barebones of an army and a muscle-headed dimwit to command it. The men under his command would not even be enough to siege an enemy village. Despite having a Bishop answer to him, the piety of the court was something Angelo, a devoted and zealous man, would like improved. His chaplain, marshal and steward were all sent to the capital to delve into the many books in the libraries of Sassari and attempt to improve the realm through knowledge.
Not long after his appointing as count, did Angelo receive another offer from his gracious Doge. He wished to appoint Angelo as chancellor to the Republic of Pisa. Angelo could do nothing but accept such a prestigious offer from such a wise liege.
The first thing Angelo planned to do, like any ruler, was to find a suitable bride. He sent his new court throughout Italy looking for a proper wife for a man of his status. However, Angelo was not focused on love. His focus was on his plans for Sardinia. While his chancellor had been sent to Cagliari, the isle of Corsica to the north still needed to be claimed. He asked his court for more information on the Count of Corsica and interesting information was revealed. Count Oberto di Parma of Parma was his name. Foolish enough to not even include the great Isle of Corsica in his title, and foolish enough still to arrange a betrothal between his eldest daughter, Giuditta, and Angelo. Giuditta was still a child, and would not marry or make permanent residence in Arborea for another six years. This gave the Count of Arborea plenty of time alone in his court with nothing to preoccupy his time but his thoughts of an ever-growing Sardinia.
Little Giuditta di Parma, future Countess of Arborea
Angelo spent a great deal of time after his initial moves as count biding his time and building the paltry treasury of his realm. He spent much of his time focused on growing the army of Arborea, relentlessly yelling at his marshal, Otto, to recruit more men or better their training for when the time war came. His proved to much for Otto to handle, and less than half a year after Angelo took control of the county, Otto died of severe stress. He was replaced with Mayor Borso, who at first glance appeared to be competent but quickly proved that to not be true at all after he injured himself during a training exercise. Despite this, Angelo wished to keep him as Marshal for longer, not wanting to displease on of his few vassals. However, after numerous petitions, Borso was proved to be unfit for the job, and the title was given to Basilo di Santaigia. The position of chaplain was also re-evaluated after a newcomer to the court, Agapito di Acerno, was proven to be far more competent in leading the daily sermons and copying the library's books.
Angelo's liege Doge Gentile of Pisa again proved his wisdom and skill when he, along with other Italian dukes declared independence from their German oppressors without bloodshed. The ultimatum was given to Kaiser Heinrich IV by Duchess Matilda of Tuscany, and was signed by the 'Holy Roman Emperor' on the 14th of July, 1068. This would be a historic day for Arborea, for Sardinia, for Pisa and for the rest of the Italian region. The Republic of Sardinia was created by Doge Gentile almost immediately after independence but inexplicably not given to Count Angelo. This upset the count, but the time would come when Di Jardinia would possess that title. The Muslims of North Africa, sensing weakness in Italy being no longer protected by their German overlords, attacked and conquered Salerno. Doge Gentile again, however, proved honourable when he declared war against the Zirid Sultanate to restore catholic rule to the area. Angelo was more then happy to pledge to his liege whatever forces he could.
Around the same time, Count Angelo concocted a plan to grow his Dynasty. His future wife's father had one son and two daughters, Giuditta being the oldest. Under succession laws, if
the son Oberto were to 'disappear', his wife or alternatively her sons, would become heir to the counties of Corsica and Parma. Angelo imeediately embraced this plan and started plotting the assassination of the young Oberto di Parma. He spent most of Arborea's treasury on bribes to try and persuade the Court of Parma to aid him. He soon had garnered enough support, but he would need to wait for a plan to be set in motion to kill the young heir. One eager courtier, offered to set the trap himself and Angelo immediately approved of the man's plan. It proved to be a relatively brilliant one, doing the job but not rousing any suspicion. Oberto was killed just after reaching majority. Unfortunately, as one brat was killed another sprung up. Count Oberto of Parma had a second son, the new heir, that would also need to be dealt with.
Meanwhile, Bonaventura Di Sassari, the loyal chancellor of the court, had produced a claim on the southern half of the island, Cagliari. The army of Arborea was too weak to press any claims at the moment, and the time for war would have to wait. Things kept looking on the up and up for Count Angelo, as in the next year Giuditta di Parma reached majority. The two were wed on the 30th of January, 1972 and it was truly a glorious occasion. Hopefully, a young Di Jardinia boy would soon spring up.
