The local Byzantine magistrates, entitled iudici, meaning "judges", were increasingly left to provide for their own administration and defense.

Maintaining the traditional forms and patterns of the imperial bureaucracy, the island's iudicati, originally a type of administrative sub-division, became autonomous states ruled by iudices.

By the 11th century, the legal titles to these districts (like the provinces administered by dux ("Duke") and comes ("Count") in mainland Europe) had become hereditary or rotated amongst a few powerful clans.

Under the ambitious Pope Gregory VII, then leading a papal reform, Sardinia was integrated into the wider Christendom.

Comita's son and successor, Barison II, put Arborea back on good terms with Pisa.

He married into the Aragonese nobility, creating ties to Spain which culminated in Sardinia falling to the Crown of Aragon some centuries later.

During the final decades of the 13th century, three other giudicati fell into the hands of either Pisa or Genoa or one of their great families, but Arborea remained independent.

He was educated at the Crown of Aragon's royal court, but later turned against his cultural allies and led a victorious revolt against the aragonese invaders Sardinian–Aragonese war.

A republic was proclaimed, but the crown was claimed by Eleanor De Serra Bas, elder sister of Hugh III, who was married to Brancaleone Doria.

Martin's sudden death made possible a recovery and occupation of Sassari and part of Logudoro as well as reclamation of the title of Judge of Arborea by William.