Chapter Three - The Early Sororiarchy
The relatively premature death of Archon Joseph in 889 left the island of Sardinia reeling. Not only had the upstart dynastic founder not left a male heir, but his realm was shattered between his four daughters. This period of Sardinian history would come to be known as the Sororiarchy (rule of the sisters), and while all four daughters were skilled and capable rulers the societal prejudice of western society against female rulers weighed heavily on them.
The title of Archonesa would pass to the Eldest, Sophia I.
What had been a united domain under her father was fractured in the succession, and while she carried the title of Archonesa she only inherited the Judicadu of Cagliari, the capital holding of Sardinia, and the County of Salerno, the Italian colony her father had conquered from it's catholic ruler only shortly before the succession. This arrangement was hardly the most stable arrangement, but it is likely that the alternative would have been worse...
Extract 11 - A letter from Stefania Floris to her sister, the Archonesa Sophia, before her investiture (889 AD)
"...it will surely suffice to say that I will not tolerate being banished to that foreign colony our dear father felt the need to conquer. And I will not have you send Beneita or poor little Maria there either! In taking up the mantle as Archonesa it is your responsibilty to look after your sisters well, and indeed manage the realm father left behind for us..."
All three of her sisters were given true Sardinian Judicada to govern, which meant that the Archonesa only exerted direct control over one fifth of the island. Her father's late vision of righteous religious expansion would have to be put on hold, as the finances of the Archonate were precarious at best with fewer direct taxes to be had. Indeed, if Sophia were going to survive and stabilise her realm, she would need friends in high places. As evidenced in her diary, she placed her childhood second-father-figure and adulthood confidante Jagu in the position of spymaster, as someone she knew she could trust.
Extract 12 - Diary of Sophia I (889 AD)
"...it would not do to simply have anyone watching my back for cutthroats and kidnappers. I need a reliable man. Someone I could call a friend... Jagu! Jagu will surely agree"
And whatever happened, she knew she had to keep a close watch on her vassals, to make sure they kept true to their familial bonds
An opportunity to do just that occurred on the 29th of January 890 AD, her late father's Marshal, Antoninu, disrespected a local baron in Cagliari. Seeing an opportunity, Sophia took the chance to fire Antoninu and replace him with her own sister Stefania, who had only recently reached her majority. While the chop and change of ministers is not something that would typically survive into the historical record from the 9th century, we know of this appointment due to the massive stir caused by picking a 16 year old girl to lead the armies of Sardinia.
But Sophia would not be cowed by anyone.
But problems shortly began to compound for Sophia. Just after she had clamped down on discontent following her sister's promotion she began to become wary of idle talk concerning her childhood friend Angiolina. Her curiosity shortly got the better of her however...
And what's more, soon after this she fell pregnant for the first time. Perhaps a stable succession could be guaranteed by the provision of a male heir?
Naming her eldest daughter after her mother proved bittersweet for Sophia
And what's more, things weren't any more reassuring in the realm of foreign policy, with the unification of the kingdoms of Italy and Lotharingia resulting in the largest Karling realm bearing down on Sardinia from the North
In one matter, however, things were looking up for the young Archonesa. Whilst never an especially zealous woman she appreciated the strong role her faith had in her personal life and governance of the realm, and grew to have a great rapport with her suffragan bishop Austinu. The man was a paragon of Orthodox teachings, and served as a pillar of holy virtue and stability in the realm and on her council.
While out on a hunt visiting her sister Stefania the Archonesa gave birth to another daughter, whom she called Sarah. A son eluded her still...
The Karling threat from the north, meanwhile, started to deal with itself, as infighting in that dynasty lead to a division of Italy between Bavaria and Lotharingia, isolating the southern Lotharingian holdings. The archones was deeply grateful that neither kingdom would likely levy its forces against the island any time soon.
With realm stability both inside and outside restored, and with funds from her rather limited tax base increasing healthily, Sophia decided to restart her late father's infrastructure projects that had been paused for the war effort in Salerno and not resumed before Joseph had died. Sardinia's population was likely increasing at this time, making such decisions prudent.
Extract 13 - Statute for efficiency of landholding in Cagliari (21st of June, 897)
"...and so provided to the minor landholders is the permission and request to improve the stock of this region by clearance of forest and of marsh, and sowing of greater numbers of crop fields..."
When her chancellor Felictu of Gallura burned to death in a mysterious accident, Sophia saw yet another opportunity to keep a watchful eye on her sister-vassals. In July of 897 she appointed her younger sister Beneita, now 17 and in her majority, to the position of chancellor.
With enough friendly faces around the council table to stave off any immediate trouble, Sophia saw fit to allow the Bishop to travel to the port of Salerno, and proselytise amongst the heretics.
The birth of yet another daughter further strengthened the association between Sardinia and Matriarchy in the eyes of foreign dignitaries and vassals alike. After the birth of Christina Sophia now counted three sisters and three daughters.
In 890, three became four
She had to find a way of tying the realm together. If she did not have a son then Angioletta would only be left with a single Judicadu in Cagliari, from which to govern a rowdy matriarchy. Her eldest needed something more. In May of 901, such an opportunity arose.
Whilst the hit and run tactics of the remnants of the defeated army proved harrying for the Sardinian forces, it was not long until Cosenza was added to their mainland holdings. Sophia prayed it would be stable enough for Christina to govern one day...
At long last, and after a brutal 18 month siege of the capital of Cosenza, the heathens finally fell to the Sardinian sword. The reclamation of southern Italy for the faith was working, if only one county at a time. But just when Sophia was preparing to set sail and tour her newest holding, she received grave news from a feast in Arborea.
Her darling, if quarrelsome, sister had died, leaving possession of the the Judicadu of Arborea in the tiny hands of Sophia's three year old niece, Judesa Anghela.
Sophia was inconsolable. Finding joy only in isolation, and in the saddle. She perhaps sought the thrill of the hunt as a way of escaping her grief. So much so in fact, that she grew to be quite adept at it.
Extract 14 - Diary of Sophia I (903 AD)
"Killed a boar today. I wish Stefania were here to see the prize"
This is the full entry
In spite of her grief, however, she still plotted to claim more of Italy for Sardinia. Whilst ostensibly focused on expelling one of the last two muslim holdouts on the Italian peninsular Sophia's diary shows other, more secular motivations. They also show that she was growing increasingly realistic about the possibility of never having a son to name as a single legitimate heir.
Extract 15 - Diary of Sophia I (907)
"...I believe the issue is primarily one of stature. While a mother will always love her children equally one of my children is Sardinia herself and she must be cared for like no other. If I secure enough land and title for my eldest, she will surely be able to withstand further external threat? Dearest Angioletta, if only you knew how much I prepare for your wellbeing..."
Angioletta would soon reach her majority, as her mother prepared a slightly different investiture ceremony for her eldest, and inviting a healthy, young, Orthodox Croat to be her daughter's husband.
The archonesa was willing to bend all convention to ensure the survival, and prosperity, of her most important daughter.
The realm of Sardinia.
Calabria would be an elective realm, but as direct holder of two thirds of the realm, it would effectively be entirely up to Sophia to decide who would inherit it. She would make sure that Sardinia remained stable after her death.
Stable and undivided.
Into the 900s now. What a sweep of luck to get 4 daughters in both the first and second generations! I hope that I've rigged it enough to ensure that Angioletta will succeed in both senses of the word, but we'll just have to see!
