Gregory of Montelongo, the patriarch of Aquileia, and Albert I, Count of Gorizia (acting also for his brother Maynard IV), enter into a mutual defense pact with specific terms regarding military assistance to quell the rebellion in Motovun, division of spoils, and dispute resolution, secured by the exchange of castles held in custody by the lords of Momjan.
In nomine Christi, amen.
Anno nativitatis Eius millesimo ducentesimoa sexagesimo sexto, none indictionis, apud Civitatem in palatiob patriarchali, die quartodecimo intrante februario, presentibus dominis Alberto episcopo Concordiensi domini G(regorii) patriarche Aquilegensis vicedomino, Adelgeroc episcopo Feltrense, Wezeloned abbate Bellinensee, Iohanne archidiacono Aquilegense, Berengerof preposito Sancti Wolrici, magistro Nicolaog de Lupico dictih domini patriarche cancellario, Gerardoi de Camino, Iohanne de Cucania, Heinrico de Mels, Asquino de Varmo, Waltherobertholdoj de Spengenberchk et dominis Stephano de Castro Novo, Heinrico et Iacobo fratribus, Vulvelonel et Lupoldo de Ragonia, Lupoldo de Ebersteinm et Heinrico de Pisino testibus et aliis multis.
Tale est pactum concorditer habitum inter venerabilem patrem dominum G(regorium)n Dei gratia sancte Aquilegensis sedis patriarcham ex parte unao et nobilem virum dominum Albertum comitem Goritie pro se et nobili viro domino Maynhardop comite fratre suo ex altera, videlicet:
[1] Quod ipse dominus patriarcha debet iuvare dictos dominos Albertum et Maynhardumq comites et astare eis contra quamlibet personam, exceptis omnibus illis cum quibus ipsi dominus patriarcha et comites confederati sunt vinculo unionis, prout continetur in instrumento concordie facto inter ipsos dominum patriarcham et comites apud Pingventum1. Que quidem concordia seu pax, secundum quod continetur in dicto instrumento, in omnibus et per omnia, non obstante pacto presenti, omni tempore inviolabilem optineantr firmitatem, et eisdems modo et forma dicti comites debent iuvare dictum dominum patriarcham et astare sibi contra quamlibet personam in vita ipsius domini patriarche.
[2] Item, si predictust dominus patriarcha agrederetur vel agredi faceret homines de Montona vel alios de guerra, postquam idem dominus patriarcha difidaveritu eos vel difidariv fecerit, si ipsi caperentur aut vincerentur per vim aut compulsi redirent ad mandatum eiusdem domini patriarche, bona mobilia dictorum rebellium equanimiter dividi debeant inter ipsum dominum patriarcham et comites memoratos, loco Montone cum omni et toto eo quod est infra Corvarium2 in ipsius domini patriarche dominio libere remanente, salvis proprietate et feudis predictorum comitum, si qua habent infra Corvarium supradictum. Si vero aliqui de Montona haberent aliquas villas seu alia bona in feudum, ville ac bona ipsa redirew debeant ad dominos feudi. Si autem aliqui dictorum rebellium existentium in provintia Istrie liberi fuerint et proprium habuerint, proprietas ipsa equanimiter dividi debeat inter dictum dominum patriarcham et comites nominatos. Et eisdemx modo et forma teneantur et debeant facere dicti comites prefato domino patriarche in omnibus et per omnia, si ipsi agrederentur vel agredi facerent aliquos de suis de guerra in Istria, hoc tamen expresso: quod dictus dominus patriarcha non possit concordare nec facere pacem cum illis quos agredietur vel agredi faciet de guerra, nisi dicti comites comprehendantur in pace et concordia huiusmodi eisdem comitibus vel eorum altero requisitis; et econverso, dicti comites teneantur et debeant facere illud idem prefato domino patriarche. Domini autem ad quos feuda predicta redierint ordinent et faciant de ipsis pro sue arbitrio voluntatis.
[3] Item, si aliquis ex illis dicti domini patriarche offenderet aut dampnum vel iniurias faceret comitibus supradictis, ipsi comites reclamare debeant de ipsis offensoribus ipsi domino patriarche, et ipse dominus patriarcha teneatur et debeaty dictis comitibus de dictis liberis vel ministerialibus suis facere rationem. Quod si forsan dicti ministeriales vel liberiz coram dicto domino patriarcha dictis comitibus noluerint facere rationem, dictus patriarcha teneatur et debeat astare ipsis comitibus contra illos; et econverso, supradicti comites in omnibus et per omnia de suis ipsi domino patriarche teneantur facere illud idem, contractu predicte pacis et concordie facte apud Pingventum inter dictos dominum patriarcham et comites in sua firmitate nichilominus in omnibus et per omnia perdurante.
Pro quibus omnibus attendendis et observandis in omni causa dictus dominus patriarcha obligavit et dedit castrum de Arenspercha' in custodia Biacuinib' de Mimilanoc' ministerialis ecclesie Aquilegensis, recipientis pro se et domino Conone fratre suo, et dictus dominus comes Albertus pro se [et]d' dicto domino M(aynardo)e' fratre suo obligavit et dedit castrum Belgradi et dolonumf' ac locum Portus Latisane in manus eiusdem Biacuini de Mimilano, recipientis etiam pro se et dicto domino Conone fratre suo, custodienda tantum ex nunc ad Pasca proximum et deinde ad tres annos completos.
Si qua vero partium veniret contra predicta vel aliquod predictorum, castrum predictum domini patriarche et dictum castrum Belgradi ac locus et dolonum Portus Latisaneg' cedant parti pactum servanti.
Et supradictus B(iacuinus) de Mimilano iuravit corporaliter ad sancta Dei evangeliah' pro se et dicto fratre suo dare et consignare absolute ac libere castrumi' et dolonum et locumj' predicta in manus partis pactum supradictum servantis, salvo iure habitatorum etk' locorum et castroruml' predictorum domini patriarche et dominorum comitum.
Ad hec dicti dominus patriarcha et dominus Albertus comesm' sic concordes fuerunt, quod Angelus et Ditricusn' habitatores in dicto castro Arenspercho' iuraverunt ad sancta Dei evangelia servare et tenere ipsum castrum de Arensperchp' ad voluntatem dicti Biacuiniq' et fratris eius ex nunc ad Pasca proximum et deinde ad tres annos completos, ita quod, si dictus dominus patriarcha frangeret pactum supradictum et veniret contra illud, dicti habitatores teneantur dare et consignarer' dictum castrum de Arensperchs' dictis C(ononi) et B(iacuino) fratribus de Mimilano, et ipsi, sicut supradictum est, teneantur consignare et dare illud comitibus antedictis. Quod si habitatores predicti contra iuramentum prestitum venientes dictum castrum prefatis C(ononi) et B(iacuino) fratribus de Mimilano, si dictum dominum patriarcham pactum predictum violare contingeret, consignare nollent vel ipsi domino patriarche illudt' aliquo modo subtraherent vel forsitan rebellarent, dicti comites teneantur et debeant astare ipsi domino patriarche contra habitatores predictos vel quemlibet eorum hoc facientem. Si autem eisdem habitatoribus vel eorum aliquo hoc facientibus memoratus dominus patriarcha frangeret pactum supradictum etiamu' contra illud veniret, sepedicti C(ono) et B(iacuinus) fratres de Mimilano teneantur et debeant loco dicti castri de Arensperchv' consignare et dare libere et absolute iam dictis comitibus vel eorum alteri castrum de Schorfenberchw', quod idem dominus patriarcha ex nunc dedit in tenutam et custodiam dicti B(iacuini) de Mimilano, recipientis pro se et dicto fratre suo.
Et si, quod absit, alter dictorum comitum decederet, ille qui superstes fuerit teneatur et debeat observare predictumx' pactum ipsi domino patriarche et econverso ipse dominus patriarcha eidem domino comiti superstiti.
Quod si forsan, quod absit, dictusy' dominus patriarcha aut comites predicti decederent, castrum [predicti]z' domini patriarche revertatur libere ad ecclesiam Aquilegensem et castrum Belgradi et dollonum et locus Portus Latisane ad heredes predictorum comitum libere revertantur.
Promisit insuper dictus dominus Al(bertus)a'' comesb'' ipsi domino patriarche sub pena mille marcarum Aquilegensis monete facere quod dictus dominus M(einhardus)c'' comes frater eius pactum presens de hinc ad festum Beati Michaelis proximum in omnibus et per omnia ratum habebit et firmum. Et de hoc specialiter fuerunt fideiussores sub eadem pena mille marcarum domini Gerardusd'' de Camino, Iohannes de Cucania, Dietalmus de Vilalta, Carelluse'' de Flagonia, Wolvelof'' de Regoniag'', Hugo de Dewinoh'', Ropretus de Budrio, Iacobus de Regoniai'', Artwicusj'' de Castello et Lodoycus de Vilalta et quilibet ipsorum pro rata ipsum contingente de predicta pena mille marcarum. Quam cito vero predictus dominus Meinhardusk'' comes pactum presens per patentes litteras suas suo sigillo pendenti munitas ratum et firmum habuerit, fideiussores predicti ab hac fideiussione sint penitus absoluti.
In cuius rei testimonium et stabilem firmitatem memorati dominus patriarcha et dominus Albertus comes instrumentum presens fecerunt sigillorum suorum pendentium munimine roborari.
(SN)l'' Ego Fridericus de Eberstein imperiali auctoritate notarius hiis omnibus presens interfui et iussu supradictorum dominorum patriarche et Alberti comitis scripsi in formam publicam reducendo.m''
(SP) (SP)n''
a) CCmo A2. b) pallatio A2. c) Adalgero A2. d) Weçelone A2. e) Beliniense A2. f) Beringero A2. g) Nicholao A2. h) om. A2. i) Girardo A2. j) Walterobertoldo A2. k) Speninberch A2. l) Vulvelo A2. m) Eberstayn A2. n) G. A1; Gregorium A2. o) parte una] inv. A2. p) Maynardo A2. q) Maynardum A2. r) obtineant A2. s) isdem A2. t) dictus A2. u) diffidaverit A2. v) diffidari A2. w) reddire A2. x) isdem A2. y) cum supervacaneo sign. abbr. A1. z) ministeriales vel liberi] liberi vel ministeriales A2. a') Arnensperch A2. b') Biaquini et undique Biaquinus A2. c') Momilliano et undique sic A2. d') A2; om. A1. e') M. A1; Maynardo A2. f') dollonum et undique sic A2. g') Portus Latisane] om. A2. h') ewangelia et undique sic A2. i') castra A2. j') loca A2. k') om. A2. l') locorum et castrorum] castrorum et locorum A2. m') Albertus comes] inv. A2. n') Dietricus A2. o') Arnesperch A2. p') Arensperch A2. q') B. A2. r') dare et consignare] consignare et dare A2. s') Arnesperch A2. t') ipsi domino patriarche illud] illud ipsi domino patriarche A2. u') sic A1; et A2. v') Arnesperch A2. w') Sorfumberch A2. x') supradictum A2. y') predictus A2. z') A2; om. A1. a'') Al. A1; Albertus A2. b'') Albertus comes] inv. A2. c'') M. A1; Maynardus A2. d'') Girardus A2. e'') Clarellus A2. f'') Vulvelo A2. g'') Ragonia A2. h'') Duino A2. i'') Ragonia A2. j'') Artuicus A2. k'') Maynardus A2. l'') om. A2. m'') Ego Fridericus—publicam reducendo] Ego Iohannes de Lupico Sacri Imperii publicus notarius hiis omnibus presens interfui et iussu supradictorum dominorum patriarche et Alberti comitis scripsi in formam publicam reducendo A2. n'') (SP) (SP)] A1; (SP D) (SP D) (SP D) (SP D) (SP D) A2.
1) Peace of Buzet – doc. 1264_PG.
2) Corvarium refers to Krvar, a tributary of River Mirna customarily designating the natural border of Motovun’s immiediate civic district.
The second confirmation of the Peace of Buzet (doc. 1264_PG), the Treaty of Cividale focused upon joint military actions led by Patriarch Gregory of Montelongo and the counts of Gorizia against the rebellious commune of Istria – Motovun.
It remains unknown what the Commune of Motovun did to be labelled “rebels” by the patriarch and to invite military actions. Monfiorito of Pula, who stirred unrest in Motovun in 1264, was brought to heel in the same year (see doc. 1264_MG) and presented no further threats. Whether there were Venetians behind these rebellious acts or the counts of Gorizia or simply the local elite vying for increased jurisdictional autonomy will remain a mystery. Nothing more is known about this Motovun’s rebellion, but it was, it would seem, quelled quickly and without military intervention.
In the coming April of 1266, the patriarch’s retinue, led by his richtarius Sensio de Bernardis of Padua, journeyed to Poreč to receive an official apology for their past offenses and to formally receive from the commune a pledge of allegiance to the ruling patriarch-margrave (the documents are published in extenso in Banić, “Spoglio di fonti archivistiche (II): Edizione critica di otto documenti sull'Istria medievale (1225-1292),” Atti del Centro di ricerche storiche di Rovigno 54 (2025): doc. 4-5, soon to be published here as well). This fact, combined with two regesta from Thesauri claritas which mention procurations issued by the communes of Bale and Rovinj to heed the mandates of the Aquileian patriarch (ed. Bianchi, docs. 533, 556, pp. 226, 229) was interpreted by Paschini (cited above) as a larger scale Istrian uprising against the Patriarchate of Aquileia. In this uprising, argues Paschini based on the aforementioned documents, several communes took part, that is, Motovun, Poreč, Rovinj and Bale. This interpretation was afterwards taken over by Giordano Brunettin (1999, cited above). This reading is untenable and should be abandoned.
Namely, the 1266 “apology” and pledge of allegiance by the Commune of Poreč is, most probably, centered around the election of the podestà for which the mandatory confirmation of the patriarch was not asked – the right to elect a podestà is explicitly mentioned in this document, whereas nothing else that would point to a rebellion or an uprising is stated. Second, the procurations issued by the communes of Bale and Rovinj date from 1265 and not 1266, so they cannot be taken as arguments in favor of an “Istrian rebellion” that would include several communities. As was rightly pointed by De Vergottini (cited above), the patriarch brough these communes to heel himself and only entered into a pact with the counts of Gorizia a year later, with this treaty of 1266, to quell this mysterious rebellion in Motovun.
This is the first treaty that Count Albert I signed in the name of his brother Maynard IV, who was at the time in Bavaria (see Paschini, cited above). Soon thereafter, the two brothers would officially split their patrimony and Count Albert I would remain the sole ruler of his family’s estates in Gorizia, Karst, and Istria (see Banić, cited above).
The lords of Momjan play an important role in this treaty as guarantors that the securities deposited by both parties would be handled according to the pact. As ministerials of the Church of Aquileia (they are named here explicitly as ministeriales ecclesie Aquilegensis), the lords of Momjan, brothers Cono and Biaquino, were deemed suitable candidates for the role of guarantors. The charter places them in custody of Postojna castle (castrum Arensperch) from the patriarch and castle Belgrado in Friuli along with the toll rights (toloneum, written here in a contaminated form as dolonum) and Port of Latisana from the counts of Gorizia, with instructions to transfer these properties to the party that honors the agreement should the other violate it. Additionally, if the inhabitants of Postojna were to rebel or refuse to surrender the castle when required, the brothers were obligated to provide castle Soffumbergo (Schorfenberch) in Friuli as an alternative security.