PROPERTY and COMPETITION from Its Nucleus in the Sabina Farfa
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CHAPTER TWO PROPERTY AND COMPETITION From its nucleus in the Sabina Farfa extended its influence outward, like rays of light to its admirers, but like the tentacles of an octopus to its critics. Its abbots formed alliances with factions from as far north as Sutri and Viterbo, the staging points for imperial actions in and around Rome, and as far south as Ceprano and Benevento, marking the boundaries of papal authority in the south. Built upon every kind of relationship from imperial alliances to local family ties, these alliances were constandy shifting. Much of Farfa's power and wealth sprang from direct ownership of property, often located in choice locations. Following Pierre Toubert, a virtual school of scholars has been charting Farfa's property in Latium, the March of Ancona, and Umbria.1 The possession of cellae and curtes, and later of castra, fiindi, vici and casalia shows a primarily agricultural territorial organization.2 Nevertheless, patterns of concentration also show that Farfa's prop erty had strategic importance. For example, an investigation of its property in Umbria reveals that it was frequently located in high places and along rivers.3 It formed a double wedge-shaped line with the point turned toward Rome. The two lines constituted a territo rial strip about ten kilometers wide forming a road, by means of 1 Among them are Maria Teresa Maggi, who summarizes the literature in "Studi Farfense," Rwista di Storia della Chiesa in Italia 47 (1993), 559-569; She notes (p. 559) that a Centro Studi farfensi has recently been organized by V. Fumagalli; idem, "I possessi dell'Abbazia di Farfa in Umbria nei secoli Vffl-XH," Bollettino della Deputazione di Storia Patria per UUmbria 91 (1994), 47-86; Letizia Pani Ermini, "L'Abbazia di Farfa," La Sabina Médiévale, ed. Marina Righetti Tosti Croce, presentazione di A. M. Romanini, intro. Pierre Toubert (Rieti, 1985), pp. 34-59; Tersilio Leggio, "Forme di insediamento in Sabina e nel Reatino nel medioevo. Alcune considerazioni," Bullettino deWIstituto stonco italiano per il Medio Evo e Archwio muratoriano 95 (1989), 165- 201; G. Sergio, "Lo Sviluppo signorile e Pinquadramento feudale," La Storia. II Medioevak 2 (Torino, 1993), 389-393. 2 Ermini, "L'Abbazia di Farfa," p. 34. 3 Maggi, "Studi Farfense," p. 566, asserts that the military character of Farfa's settlements, especially along rivers, is documented by the studies of D. Pacini, "Possessi e Chiese farfensi nelle valli picene," Istutuzioni e Societa, pp. 333-425. She also specu lates (p. 569) that the quarrels between Farfa and S. Eustachio, discussed below, probably arose because of the property's strategic importance close to the Tiber. PROPERTY AND COMPETITION 31 which Farfa attained control of the area. The castles in these settle ments were always located at the south of the city facing toward Rome.4 Maria Teresa Maggi concludes that in Umbria Farfa created a territorial corridor to defend itself from Rome and from the Patri monium S. Petri.5 In addition to property in the Sabina and Rome, it held posses sions in Lombardy, the Duchy of Spoleto, the March of Ancona, and in the cities of Ostia, Porto and Corneto along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Latium. The coastal cities gave it access to salt flats, and some degree of oversight over the critical section of the coastline just above the Tiber.6 From there it was in a position to monitor papal escapes into exile and the southern expeditions of sea powers such as Pisa and Genoa. Some of its property consisted of castles, such as the castle of S. Severa along the coast of northern Latium, but even its churches and abbeys may have been fortified, and accordingly may have had strategic and military importance.7 In 1068 Count Gerald II of Gale- ria donated S. Severa and its church with all of its property and half of the port.8 This port was critical for Farfa as an outlet to the sea, and as a bonus it boasted a fishery teeming with tuna. A confirma tion to San Paolo fuori le mura reveals that by 1130 Farfa had lost control of S. Severa.9 No doubt the value of Farfa's property accounted for the frequent challenges to its rights of possession. Its sources indicate that it gen erally was able to document ownership, and to win cases brought before tribunals. Among its rivals were the church of S. Eustachio in Rome for possessions in Rome, the monastery of San Paolo fuori le 4 Maggi, "I possessi in Umbria," p. 85. 5 Ibid., 86: "L'Abbazia créa in Umbria un cordone territoriale per difendersi da Roma e dal Patrimonium S. Pein, costituendo Punico elemento di coordinazione e riferimento per le nascenti forze signorili locali." 6 Silvestrelli, Città, p. 15. After the destruction of Civitavecchia by the Saracens, Leo IV founded a city for its inhabitants a few miles away called Centocelle, first called Leopoli. In 1072 Sasso, count of Civitas vetula gave half of the castle to Farfa, which already possessed rights in the area at S. Severa and Corneto, stretch ing as far as Civitavecchia. 7 Maggi, "Studi Farfense," p. 569; Maggi states that the possession of the castle of S. Severa gave rise to numerous conflicts with S. Crisogono at Rome. 8 Regesto 4, #991, p. 371; Moscati, Alle Origini del Comune Romano, p. 156; G. Sacchi Lodispoto, "II Castello di S. Severa nel Medioevo" in Fatti e Figure del Lazio médiévale (Rome, 1975), p. 85. 9 JL 8373; Bullanum Casinense, ed. G. Margarini 2 (Todi, 1570), p. 139. .