Giudicato of Cagliari

Giudicato di Cagliari
Judicadu de Calaris
1020–1258
Giudicato of Cagliari (rose in the map)
Capital		Santa Igia
Languages		Sardinian, Latin
Religion		Roman Catholic
Government		Giudicato
Giudicato
•	1089 – 1102	Constantine I of Cagliari
•	1214–1232	Benedetta of Cagliari
•	1256 – 1258	William III of Cagliari
History
•	Established	1020
•	Disestablished	1258
Preceded by Succeeded by Byzantine Empire Republic of Pisa Giudicato of Arborea

The Judicatus of Caralis (Italian: Giudicato di Cagliari, Sardinian: Judicadu de Calaris) was one of the four Sardinian Judicati of the Middle Ages, kingdoms of Byzantine origins.

The Judicatus of Cagliari covered the entire south and central east portion of the island and was composed of thirteen subdivisions called curatoriae. To its north and west lay Arborea and north and on the east lay Gallura and Logudoro.

The exact date of birth of the giudicato of Cagliari is unknown. After the Byzantine conquest of Sardinia, that took place in 534, the island became one of the provinces of the Exarchate of Africa and was governed by a magistrate of the empire said Iudex Provinciae, resident in Caralis.

Until the beginning of the 8th century, Sardinia remained a Byzantine province, but when the Arabs conquered Sicily (827), communications between Byzantium and its westernmost province became very difficult. In such situation the island, that had to face several Saracen raids, became de facto independent.

Cagliari (Caralis), the capital in turn of the Roman, Vandal and Byzantine provinces of Sardinia, was historically the most important cities on Sardinia. However starting from the 8-9th century the city was abandoned because it was too exposed to attacks by Moorish pirates. Apparently many people left Cagliari and founded a new town named Santa Igia in an area close to the Santa Gilla swamp to the west of Cagliari, but distant from the sea. Santa Igia became then the capital of the giudicato of Cagliari, one of the four Kingdoms that evolved when imperial power receded in the West.