Eleanor of Arborea

Eleanor of Arborea (Sardinian: Elianora de Arbaree;Catalan: Elionor d'Arborea); Molins de Rei, 1347 – Giudicato of Arborea, 1404, was the juyghissa or judikessa ("female judge" or Queen in Sardinian language) of Arborea from 1383 to her death. She was one of the last, most powerful and significant Sardinian judges, as well as the island's most renowned heroine.

Born at Molins de Rei, Catalonia, Eleanor of Bas-Serra was the daughter of Marianus IV of Arborea, who had become in 1346 iuyghe of Arborea, on the west coast of Sardinia, and his wife Timbora de Rocabertí. It has been said that their family, the Bas, belonged to the House of Visconti. The house of Arborea, whose power extended over about one third of Sardinia, was the only independent part of the island at that point in history. During her childhood, she was raised with a natural tendency towards war and weapons.

Her father married Eleanor to Brancaleone Doria, a Genoese nobleman who held the fief of Castelgenovese, in order to strengthen local alliances. Marianus died in 1376 and was succeeded by his son Hugh III. In March 1383, there was a republican uprising in Arborea and Hugh was murdered. Eleanor defeated the rebels and became regent to her infant son Frederick, who as next male heir became the official monarch of Arborea. For the next four years Arborea was at war with the Crown of Aragon, which claimed the island. It lost much of its Sardinian possessions to Eleanor. Arborea obtained almost all of the island during this war. After rallying Sardinian forces, Eleanor was able to negotiate a favourable treaty. Her eldest son Frederick died during this war and was succeeded by her younger son, Marianus V. An alliance was formed with Genoa which sustained Arborea's independence for another generation. She died in Oristano, Sardinia, in 1404 (or in 1402, as some believe).

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