William I of Cagliari

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William I (died 1214), also known as Salusio IV, was the giudice of Cagliari fropm 1193 to his death. He was the son of Giorgia, daughter of Constantine III, and Obert, Margrave of Massa.

In 1188, when Constantine's eldest daughter died, the Pisans arrested her widower, Peter I, and imprisoned him for continuing to hold the judgeship and support the Genoese. He was followed on the throne by Obert, though Peter continued to contest the throne until his death, at which point the barons of the realm elected William as judge.

In 1194, he invaded Logudoro and occupied Goceano. There he imprisoned Prunisinda, the Catalan wife of Constantine II of Torres. She died the subsequent year at Santa Igia, William's capital, of malnourishment and mistreatment. In 1195, Constantine attacked Santa Igia without success. The war between the two rulers continued until Constantine's death in battle in December 1198. That same year, William attacked Arborea and forced the co-judge Peter de Serra to flee to his co-ruler Hugh de Bas. William advanced on Oristano, Arborea's chief port city, and demanded the cession of several frontier castles, including Marmilla, which he obtained. Soon, however, Comita III of Torres accused William to Pope Innocent III of aggression and other breaches of the peace. Arborea came under papal protection. In response, William married his daughter to Hugh and effectively took control of Arborea. Towards 1206, William turned his sights on Gallura, but the giudicessa Elena married Lamberto Visconti, who rebuffed his assaults (1207).

William's married firstly Adelasia Malaspina and secondly Gisiana de Capraia (or Borgundione). He left by Gisiana three children:

• Beneta, married Barisone II of Arborea
• Agnes, married Marianus II of Torres to seal a treaty returning Goceano to Logudoro
• Preziosa, married the aforementioned Hugh

William died in 1214 and was succeeded by Barisone of Arborea, his eldest daughter's husband.

[edit] Sources

• Caravale, Mario (ed). Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: XXVII Collenuccio – Confortini. Rome, 1982.

Preceded by Peter I

Giudice of Cagliari 1193 – 1214

Succeeded by Barisone IV