Aspetti dell'evoluzione del possesso feudale in Abruzzo nella prima età angioma

Aspects of the evolution of feudal possession in Abruzzo in the early Angevin age. The Angevin conquest of 1266 had a profound impact on the feudal geography of Abruzzo, an especially large region and, because of its border position, of great strategic importance. Some phenomena deserve special attention: the introduction of Franco-Provençal elements into feudal structures; the resilience of families of Norman or Swabian origin, capable in some cases of building large feudal aggregates (exemplified by the Acquaviva complex); the obstinate presence of proponents of the Swabian dynasty (such as Gualtieri di Bellante), ever eager to support Corradino’s power play, the continual revolts of Conrad of Antioch and the intervention of Pietro d’Aragona; the sad decline of the Franco-Provencal families, destined, save for rare exceptions, such as that of the Cantelmo, to vanish within a few generations (exemplary, in this case, was the plight of the Agoult de Curbans, forced to abandon the Kingdom after the success of Charles III of Durazzo).