The myth of Eleonora and the importance of the Carta de Logu
Ugone III was a great leader, but his authoritarian character and his serious depressive syndrome (no doctor manage to cure it) made him fall out with the nobles of Arborea, that killed him and his daughter Benedetta in 1383. In that period, the economic situation of the Giudicato was quite critical, due to long and expensive wars, and the political situation did not facilitate the agreements with the various European powers. In place of Ugone III was named Federico Doria son of Eleonora (sister of Ugone III) and Brancaleone Doria. This child was born from a wedding that had facilitated the pacification with the important Genovese family of the Doria (that from Alghero moved to Castelsardo). However, he was not yet in the position of guiding the Giudicato. Therefore, until his maturity, the regency was entrusted to Eleonora, who was living with her family in Genoa, at that time.
After been named Giudicessa (Lady-Judge), Eleonora immediately tried to bring back the order in the territories of the Giudicato, crossing a large part of Sardinia by horse, and trying to trace the principals in the murder of Ugone III. From the very beginning, Eleonora tried to broach a diplomatic relationship with Pietro IV d’Aragona, in order to accord an honorable peace. But, the king treated her distrustfully and as if it was not enough, he ordered the arrest of Brancaleone Doria, who got locked up in the jail of the “Torre di San Pancrazio” (Saint Pancrazio's Tower), in Cagliari garrisoned by the Aragonese troops.
This episode further worsened the relation between the Reign of Aragona and the Giudicato of Arborea, consequently the peace negotiations were long and laborious. The peace with the king Pietro IV, accorded over a long period of time, was in the end signed in 1388, by his successor, the son Giovanni I “il Cacciatore” (the Hunter). In the mean time, even the little Federico Doria died: thus, his youngster brother Mariano V was appointed Giudice of Arborea. Eleonora's husband (Brancaleone) was still in prison, so, chattering her teeth, she had to accept a difficult situation. Giovanni I, the new king of Aragona brought back the territory of the Giudicato of Arborea again inside the borders, that were marked until 1353. He also facilitated the settlement of numerous Iberian families in the territory of the Sardinia's Reign.
In1390, Brancaleone was finally released. During those years, Eleonora administered wisely the power of the Giudicato, gaining the admiration and the esteem of Sardinian people. However, it was through her myth, born with the “Falsi d’Arborea”, that in XIX she was made into an heroin. Eleonora died around May and July, in 1403, probably because of the plague that was decimating the Sardinia's population at the beginning of the 1400. Nevertheless, the Giudicessa (Lady-Judge), managed to emanate a new edition of the “Carta de Logu”, law and penal civil code, one of the most important documents of the history of Sardinia. This writing in Sardinian language of Arborea can be attributed to different legal traditions and probably also to a group of jurists coming even from abroad. The “Carta de Logu” remained in effect until to the promulgation of the Feliciano Code in 1827.
