The islanders were hoping for status such as enjoyed by Venice, Genoa, Pisa and other cities, free to form their own government, but morally answerable only to the pope who would hold a vague and unstable suzerainty.
Saarlased lootsid sama staatust nagu Veneetsial, Genoval, Pisal ja teistel linnadel, vabad moodustama oma valitsust, kuid moraalselt vastutavad ainult paavsti ees, kes hoiaks ähmast ja ebastabiilset süserniteeti.