The aristocratic titles in the Royal City under Aragon

The king Alfonso “il Magnanimo” (the Magnanimous) of Aragona was the one who conferred to Sassari the title of royal city ( such as Cagliari, Oristano, Bosa, Alghero, Castelsardo and Iglesias). He was also who bestowed aristocratic titles to the most important citizens of Sassari. The good relation with Barcelona gave to Sassari a remarkable impulse from a political and economic point of view. It is not a case that in 1438, the Episcopal center of the diocese of Torres was transferred to Sassari. In 1456, in this city the Parliaments were summoned, which consisted on the assembly of the Sardinian people (mostly noblemen and representatives of the clergy): from that moment there were official attempts of subtracting powers and privileges to the rival Cagliari. But this mission was not successful.

After a quite peaceful century, in 1527 the French and the Genoese ally guided by Andrea Doria took possession of Sassari. However, one month later, after having been set on fire and sword, the city was once again freed. In the XVI and XVII centuries, epidemics (plague and smallpox) decimated Sassari that had also to resist the growing misgovernment of the Spanishes.