Aragonese conquest of Sardinia

Conquest of Sardinia
Major battles of the campaign
Date 1323–1326 Location Sardinia Result Aragonese victory Conquest of Pisan Sardinia by the Crown of Aragon. Annexation of Sassari. Creation of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Belligerents
Crown of Aragon Judicate of Arborea	Republic of Pisa Republic of Genoa House of Doria
Commanders and leaders
Alfonso IV of Aragon Hugh II of Arborea	Manfredi della Gherardesca Gaspare Doria
Strength
unknown	unknown

The Aragonese conquest of Sardinia took place between 1323 and 1326. The island of Sardinia was at the time subject to the influence of the Republic of Pisa, the Pisan della Gherardesca family, Genoa and of the Genoese families of Doria and the Malaspina; the only native political entity survived was the Judicate of Arborea, allied with the Crown of Aragon. The financial difficulties due to the wars in Sicily (until 1295), the conflict with the Crown of Castile in the land of Murcia and Alicante (1296–1304) and the failed attempt to conquer Almeria (1309) explain the delay of James II of Aragon in bringing the conquest of Sardinia, enfeoffed to him by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297.

The possession of the island of Sardinia was crucial for the Crown of Aragon. Sardinia was abundant of natural resources like silver and salt and had a thriving agro-pastoral economy; also its geographical location ensured more control over the western Mediterranean and the island itself was an indispensable basis for the creation of so-called ruta de las islas (route of the islands) that allowed to halve the time of sailing to reach the rich markets of the Eastern Mediterranean.