Barisone I. DI LACON-GUNALE

Barison I or Barisone I was the giudice of Arborea from around 1038 until about 1060 and then of Logudoro[1] until his death sometime around 1073. He is the first ruler of Logudoro of Whom we have any real knowledge. His whole policy was opposition to Pisa and support of monastic immigration from mainland Italy. His wife was Preziosa de Orrubu.[2]

On hearing of the death of the judge of Logudoro around 1060, Barison gave Arborea to his nephew (or son) Marianus and went to Porto Torres to receive the vacant judgeship.

In 1063, Barisone asked Desiderius of Benevento, abbot of Montecassino, to send twelve monks to establish the Benedictine rule on the island of Sardinia. Desiderius sent them, via Gaeta, with books, relics, and other religious and cultural items. However, determined to maintain a religious monopoly in Sardinia, the Pisan archdiocese attacked the monks at sea off the GiglioIsland, where four died. The remaining eight returned to Montecassino. While Pope Alexander II excommunicated the Pisans for the assault, only the intervention of Godfrey the Bearded, margrave of Tuscany, secured satisfaction to the monastery and to Barisone.

In 1065, by request, two more monks were sent. Barisone gave them Santa Maria di Bonarcado and Sant'Elia di Montesanto.[3] In that same year, Barisone associated his nephew (or son) Andrew Tanca with him in the government and this Marianus succeeded him on his death.

Comments