I Castelli litoranei del giudicato di Gallura: riflessioni sulla territorialità

This research project about littoral castles and fortresses intends to identify and deepen the concept of state-civitas of several castles in Gallura’s kingdom; these buildings were constructed between the century XI and XIV on a site where its economic and political perspectives were first oriented towards the coast and the sea. In this way, it is possible to delineate a general picture about the different types of castles situated in that area and understand until what extent they could be considered as legal and political-institutional configuration. The idea starts up by identifying the concept of territoriality as a political and administrative instrument to rule a certain land. The research begins by taking into consideration this concept, explained in the opening chapters of the first part of the work, related to the origin, the formation and the development of the castles; then followed by the explanation of the first constructing typology of Gallura and medieval Sardinia’s castles, mainly outlining the economic and legal aspects. The second part marks out the study of the Gallurese castles and cities: their origins and location. A particular reflection concerns the history of the structure, which allows to debate about its territorial role. The final part of the research is enriched by the unpublished sources incorporated in the work and found in Aragon and Cagliari’s archive.