Catalan counties facts for kids
The Catalan counties (Catalan: Comtats Catalans, IPA: [kumˈtats kətəˈlans]) were the administrative Christian divisions of the eastern Carolingian Hispanic Marches and the southernmost part of the March of Gothia in the Pyrenees created after their rapid conquest by the Franks.
The various counties roughly defined what later came to be known as the Principality of Catalonia.
In 778, Charlemagne led the first military Frankish expedition into Hispania to create the Hispanic Marches, a buffer zone between the Umayyad Moors and Arabs of Al-Andalus and the Frankish Kingdom of Aquitaine. The territory that he subdued was the kernel of Catalonia (not yet known like that since the first written mention of Catalonia and the Catalans as an ethnicity appears almost a century later in 1113 at the Liber maiolichinus) which was already a no man's land since the defeat of the Visigoths and the arrival of the Muslims in 714 who crossed the Pyrenees with an army to be defeated in 732 at the Battle of Tours. In 781, Charlemagne made his 3-year-old son Louis the Pious (778 – 840) king of Aquitaine, who was sent there with regents and a court in order to secure the southern border of his kingdom against the Arabs and the moors and to expand southwards into Muslim territory.
These counties were originally feudal entities ruled by a small military elite. Counts were appointed directly by and owed allegiance to the Carolingian (Frankish) emperor. The appointment to heirs could not be taken for granted. However, with the rise of the importance of the Bellonids and strong figures among them such as, Sunifred (fl. 844–848) and Wilfred the Hairy (c.870-897), and the weakening of Carolingian royal power, the appointment of heirs eventually become a formality. This trend resulted in the counts becoming de facto independent of the Carolingian crown under Borrell II in 987, starting since, to call themselves and to be known as dei gratia comes (counts by the grace of god) and dux catalanensis (Catalan dukes) or even Hispaniae subjogator (attorney of Hispania) and Propugnator et murus christiani populi (wall and defender of the Christian folk).
The many counties (aside from the counties of County of Pallars, County of Urgell and County of Empuries) were to be soon absorbed into the County of Barcelona. A Count of Barcelona, prince Ramon Berenguer IV, married princess Petronilla of Aragon of the Kingdom of Aragon in 1150, uniting as equals the County of Barcelona and the Kingdom of Aragon. Thus, their son, Alfonso II of Aragon, became the first king of the Crown of Aragon, ruling over both the Catalans and the Aragonese.
Contents
Creation
The reconquista from the Moors by the Franks began in 785. In 785, Rostany (or Rostaing) was made Count of Girona, the first of the Catalan counties to be established. Besalú and Empúries were originally part of Girona. In 801, in the greatest military triumph of his long career, the young Louis took Barcelona, the greatest city of the Catalan littoral. When Urgell and Cerdanya were subdued around 798, they were also made counties and Borrell was made count. He took a very active part in the subsequent conquest of Osona in 799 and the successful siege of Barcelona in 801. He was made count of Osona in 799, perhaps as a reward for his services. In 801, the greatest of the counties, Barcelona, was established under Bera. In 812, Count Odilo of Girona (which included Besalú and Empúries) died and the county also passed to Bera.
In 804 and 805, Borrell participated in the expeditions to Tortosa, but not in the subsequent campaigns of 808 and 809. On Borrell's death in 820, Osona was given to Rampon and Urgell and Cerdanya went to Aznar Galíndez. Also in 820, Bera went into political disfavour and lost the countships of Barcelona and Girona, which also went to Rampon.
Around 813, Empúries became a separate county under Ermenguer, and in 817, it was united to the County of Roussillon. From 835 to 844, Sunyer I was count of Empúries and Peralada while Alaric I was count of Roussillon and Vallespir.
Besalú was made a separate county in 878 for Radulf on the condition that it pass to the heirs of Wilfred the Hairy on his death. It went to Miro I the Younger in 912.
Barcelona soon overshadowed the other counties in importance, especially during the reign of Wilfred the Hairy in the late 9th century. At that time, the power of the Carolingians was waning and the neglected Hispanic march was practically independent of royal authority. In the early 11th century, Berenguer Ramon I, Count of Barcelona, was able to submit to Sancho III of Navarre as his suzerain, even though he was still legally a vassal of Robert II of France. With the accession of Robert's father, Hugh Capet, the first non-Carolingian king, in 987, most of the Catalan counts refused to pay homage to the new dynasty. Over the next century, most of the Catalan counties came into the hands of the counts of Barcelona. In time, one of the Counts of Barcelona, Ramon Berenguer IV, married the heiress of Aragon, Petronella, uniting the counties under the count's power to that kingdom, creating the Crown of Aragon. Several of the later kings re-created some Catalan counties as appanages for younger sons.
Catalan Counties and Viscounties
Catalan Counties | Catalan Viscounties |
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Appointed Rulers
Ruler | Born | Reign | Death | Ruling part | Family | Notes |
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Rostany | ? | 785-801/11 | ? | Girona | ? | |
Borrell I | ? | 798-820 | 820 | Cerdanya Urgell Osona |
? | After his death his counties were annexed by the County of Aragon (820-834/38). |
Odilon | ? | 801/11-817 | ? | Girona | ? | |
Beggo | 755 | 806-816 | 28 October 816 | Pallars Ribagorça |
Girardid | |
Bera | 770 | 790-820 | 844 | Razès Conflent |
? | Nominated to three different counties in the Hispanic March. Conflent merged in Razès. |
801-820 | Barcelona | |||||
817-820 | Girona Besalú |
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Ermenguer | ? | 813-817 | ? | Empúries | ? | |
Gaucelm | 796 | 817-832 | 834 | Roussillon Empúries |
Guilhelmids | |
828-832 | Razès | |||||
Rampon | 770 | 820-825 | 825 | Girona Besalú Barcelona Razès |
? | Osona merged in Barcelona from 820. |
Bernard of Septimania | 770 | 825-832 835-844 |
844 | Girona Besalú Barcelona Razès |
Guilhelmids | Married Dhuoda of Gascony, daughter of the Duke of Gascony. |
835-844 | Pallars Ribagorça |
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Berengar the Wise | 790 | 816-835 | 835 | Pallars Ribagorça |
Unrochids | |
832-835 | Girona Besalú Barcelona Roussillon Empúries Razès |
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Sunifred I | ? | 834-848 | 848 | Cerdanya | Bellonids | Married Ermesinde (in 840), and had offspring, which succeeded him; See Hereditary period below. |
838-848 | Urgell | |||||
844-848 | Girona Besalú Barcelona |
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Sunyer I | ? | 835-848 | ? | Roussillon | Bellonids | Brother of Sunifred I. |
835-842 843-848 |
Empúries | |||||
Alaric | ? | 842-843 | ? | Empúries | ? | |
Argila | ? | 844-846 | 846 | Razès | ? | Son of Count Bera I. |
Bera II | ? | 846-849 | 849 | Razès | ? | Also Count of Carcassonne. |
Miro Eutili | ? | 849-850 | 849 | Razès | ? | Also Count of Carcassonne. |
Fredelo | ? | 844-852 | 852 | Pallars Ribagorça |
? | Also Count of Carcassonne. |
850-852 | Razès | |||||
Wilfred | ? | 848-852 | ? | Girona | ? | |
William of Septimania | 826 | 848-850 | 850 | Barcelona Roussillon Empúries |
Guilhelmids | Son of Bernard of Septimania. |
Aleran of Troyes | ? | 850-852 | ? | Barcelona Roussillon Empúries |
House of Blois (possibly) |
Joint rulers. |
Isembard of Vergy | ? | ? | House of Vergy | |||
Odalric | ? | 852-858 | 864 | Girona | ? | |
Humfrid | ? | 858-864 | 859 | Roussillon Barcelona |
Hunfridings | |
858-862 | Empúries Girona |
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Otger | ? | 862-870 | ? | Empúries Girona |
? | |
Bernard of Gothia | ? | 864-878 | After 879 | Roussillon Barcelona |
Guilhelmids | Also Count of Poitiers. |
Hereditary Rulers
Catalan Counties under Bellonid dynasty
Partitions of the Catalan counties under Bellonid/Barcelona domain
County of Barcelona (878-1410) (Barcelona line) |
County of Roussillon (878-1172) (Bellonid line) |
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County of Cerdanya (1st creation) (897-1118) |
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County of Empúries (905-1402) (Barcelona line from 1325) |
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County of Urgell (992-1413) (small interlude by the House of Cabrera (1231-1327) |
County of Besalú (988-1118) |
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County of Forcalquier (1129-1209) |
Barcelona joined by the Kingdom of Aragon (1137) |
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County of Provence (1127-1267) |
County of Cerdanya (2nd creation) (1162-1344) |
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Inherited by the Kingdom of Naples |
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Annexed to the Aragonese House of Trastámara |
Annexed to the Aragonese House of Trastámara |
Table of rulers
Ruler | Born | Reign | Death | Ruling part | Consort | Notes | |
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Wilfred I the Hairy El Pilós |
c.840 Girona Disputed filiation, Presumed son of Sunifred, Count of Barcelona and Ermesinde |
878-897 | 897 Tremp aged 46–47 |
County of Barcelona | Guinidilda 877 ten children |
Children of Sunifred, divided their lands. Wilfred was the first count to explicitly pass his titles to his children: with him begins the hereditary period in the Catalan counties. Radulf had no children and his county passed to his nephew Miro, Count of Cerdanya. | |
Radulf | c.885 Son of Sunifred, Count of Barcelona and Ermesinde |
878 –920 | 920 aged 34–35 |
County of Barcelona (at Besalú) |
Unmarried | ||
Miro I the Elder El Vell |
c.840Son of Sunifred, Count of Barcelona and Ermesinde | 878 –895 | 896 | County of Roussillon | Quíxol one child |
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Besalú briefly annexed to Cerdanya | |||||||
Sunyer II | c.840 Son of Sunyer I, Count of Empúries |
870 –894 | 915 aged 74–75 |
County of Empúries | Ermengarda four children |
Children of Sunyer I, ruled separated lands. | |
895 –915 | County of Roussillon | ||||||
Dela | c.840 Son of Sunyer I, Count of Empúries |
870 –894 | 894 aged 33–34 |
County of Empúries | Cixilona two children |
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Empúries briefly annexed to Roussillon | |||||||
Wilfred II Borrell I (Guifré Borrell) |
c.874 Girona First son of Wilfred I and Guinidilda |
897 –26 April 911 | 26 April 911 Barcelona aged 36–37 |
County of Barcelona | Garsenda 898 one child |
Children of Wilfred the Hairy, divided the land. Miro passed his lands to his descendants, but Wilfred had no children. Therefore, Barcelona passed to a younger brother, Sunyer. Sunifred died without descendants and the county went to his nephew Borrell II, Count of Barcelona, Girona and Osona. | |
Miro II the Younger El Jove |
c.878 Second son of Wilfred I and Guinidilda |
897 –October 927 | October 927 aged 48–49 |
County of Cerdanya | Ava of Pallars 915 eight children |
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Sunifred II | c.880 Fourth son of Wilfred I and Guinidilda |
897 –948 | 948 aged 67–68 |
County of Barcelona (at Urgell) |
Adelaide of Barcelona Bonafilla (918-993) no children |
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Urgell briefly annexed to Barcelona | |||||||
Sunyer | c.890 Girona Sixth son of Wilfred I and Guinidilda |
26 April 911 –947 | 15 October 950 Lagrasse aged 59–60 |
County of Barcelona | Aimilda 914 one child Richilde 925 five children |
Younger brother of Wilfred II and Miro II, succeeded his brother in Barcelona. | |
Bencion | c.870? Son of Sunyer II and Ermengarda |
915 –916 | 4 March/1 September 916 aged 45–46 |
County of Roussillon | Godlana of Barcelona no children |
Children of Sunyer II, ruled jointly. Bencion was son-in-law of his uncle Miro the Elder, but was Gausbert who assured the continuity of the inheritance. | |
Gausbert | c.870? Son of Sunyer II and Ermengarda |
915 –931 | 931 aged 69–70 |
County of Roussillon | Trudegarda three children |
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Regency of Ava of Pallars (927-942) | Children of Miro II; divided the land. Wilfred was the last Catalan count that came to pay tribute to the Carolingian king. After Wilfred II's death with no descendants, Sunifred reunited Besalú with Cerdanya. However, as Sunifred didn't have children himself, the county passed to his younger brother. | ||||||
Sunifred II | 915 First son of Miro II and Ava of Pallars |
October 927 –30 October 968 | 30 October 968 Cuxa aged 52–53 |
County of Cerdanya | Godlana of Barcelona no children |
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Wilfred II | c.920 Second son of Miro II and Ava of Pallars |
October 927 –957 | November/December 957 Besalú aged 36–37 |
County of Cerdanya (at Besalú) |
Unmarried | ||
Gausfred I | c.900 Son of Gausbert and Trudegarda |
931 –991 | 991 aged 90–91 |
County of Roussillon | Ava Guisla of Rouergue four children Sybille no children |
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Miro I |
c.926 Barcelona Second son of Sunyer and Richilde |
947 –966 | 966 aged 39–40 |
County of Barcelona | Unmarried | Children of Sunyer, ruled jointly. In his testament, Borrell II, gave Barcelona, Girona and Osona to Ramon Borrell (992-1017), while Urgell went to Ermengol I (992-1010), so that the Count of Urgell title became separated from the House of Barcelona. | |
Borrell II |
c.927 Barcelona Third son of Sunyer and Richilde |
947 –992 | 992 aged 64–65 |
County of Barcelona | Luitgarde 968 five children |
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Miro III El Bonfill (The Good Son?) |
c.920 Third son of Miro II and Ava of Pallars |
968 –22 January 984 | 22 January 984 Girona aged 63–64 |
County of Cerdanya | Unmarried | Also Bishop of Girona (968-984). | |
Oliba Cabreta (?) |
c.920 Fourth son of Miro II and Ava of Pallars |
22 January 984 –988 | 990 Montecassino aged 69–70 |
County of Cerdanya | Ermengarda of Roussillon-Empúries 966 five children |
Abdicated to his children in 988 to follow a monastic life. | |
Ramon Borrell |
26 May 972 Girona Son of Borrell II and Luitgarde |
988 –8 September 1017 | 8 September 1017 Barcelona aged 45 |
County of Barcelona | Ermesinde of Carcassonne 993 two children |
Children of Ramon Borrell, divided the land. | |
Ermengol I of Córdoba El de Córdoba |
973 Barcelona Second son of Borrell II and Luitgarde |
992 –1 September 1010 | 1 September 1010 Córdoba aged 36–37 |
County of Urgell | Tetberga of Forez (d.c.1011) c.1000 two children |
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Regency of Ermengarda of Roussillon-Empúries (988-994) | Children of Oliba Cabreta, divided the county. Oliba abdicated of Berga to become abbot and then Bishop of Vic (1018-1046). | ||||||
Bernard I Taillefer Tallaferro |
c.970 First son of Oliba Cabreta and Ermengarda of Roussillon-Empúries |
988 –1020 | September/October 1020 aged 49–50 |
County of Besalú | Toda of Provence (988-1052) 992 eight children |
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Wilfred II | c.970 Second son of Oliba Cabreta and Ermengarda of Roussillon-Empúries |
988 –1035 | 31 July 1049 Abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou aged 78–79 |
County of Cerdanya | Guisla of Pallars c.1006 (c.1020) eight children |
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Oliba | 971 Third son of Oliba Cabreta and Ermengarda of Roussillon-Empúries |
988 –1002 | 31 October 1046 Cuxa aged 74–75 |
County of Cerdanya (at Berga) |
Unmarried | ||
Hugh I | c.965 First son of Gausfred I and Ava Guisla of Rouergue |
991 –1040 | 1040 aged 74–75 |
County of Empúries | Guisla of Béziers five children |
Children of Gausfred I, divided the land. | |
Giselbert I | c.965 Third son of Gausfred I and Ava Guisla of Rouergue |
991 –1014 | 1014 aged 48–49 |
County of Roussillon | Beliarda three children |
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Regency of Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona (1010-1018) | Began a war of conquest alongside his uncle and regent. Died in pilgrimage. | ||||||
Ermengol II the Pilgrim El Pelegrí |
1009 Son of Ermengol I and Tetberga of Forez |
1 September 1010 –1038 | 1038 Jerusalem aged 26–27 |
County of Urgell | Arsenda of Béziers (d.c.1030) 1026 no children Velasquita-Constance of Besalú (d.1059) 1030 one child |
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Gausfred II | c.1000 Son of Giselbert I and Beliarda |
1014 –1074 | 1074 aged 73–74 |
County of Roussillon | Adelaide five children |
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Regency of Ermesinde of Carcassonne (1017-1021) | |||||||
Berenguer Ramon I the Crooked El Corbat |
1004 Son of Ramon Borrell and Ermesinde of Carcassonne |
8 September 1017 –31 March 1035 | 31 March 1035 Barcelona aged 30–31 |
County of Barcelona | Sancha of Castile 1021 two children Guisla of Lluçá 1027 three children |
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William I the Fat El Gras |
c.995 Son of Bernard I and Toda of Provence |
1020 –1052 | 1052 aged 56–57 |
County of Besalú | Adelaide of Provence 1020 three children |
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Regency of Ermesinde of Carcassonne (1035-1039) | He was the first to have the intention of creating a Principality of Catalonia, ideal then applied by his descendant Alfonso II of Aragon from 1162. Some authors argue that he may have ruled with his wife Almodis de La Marche, although her status as sovereign is very disputed. | ||||||
Ramon Berenguer I the Old El Vell |
1023 Girona Son of Berenguer Ramon I and Sancha of Castile |
31 March 1035 –26 June 1076 | 26 June 1076 Barcelona aged 52–53 |
County of Barcelona | Élisabeth de Nîmes 1039 three children Blanche de Narbonne 16 March 1051 (annulled 1052) no children Almodis de La Marche 1056 Barcelona (together since 1052) four children |
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Regency of Guisla de Lluçá (1035-1054) | Received the counties of Osona and Manresa. As he also was a minor, he was under regency of his mother. As she married again in 1054, William decided to give back his counties to his half-brother. | ||||||
William | 1028 Girona Son of Berenguer Ramon I and Guisla de Lluçá |
31 March 1035 –1054 | 1057 aged 28–29 |
County of Barcelona (at Osona and Manresa) |
Unmarried | ||
Osona reabsorbed in Barcelona | |||||||
Ramon | c.1010 First son of Wilfred II and Guisla of Pallars |
1035 –1068 | 1068 aged 57–58 |
County of Cerdanya | Adelaide c.1040 two children |
Children of Wilfred II. Ramon kept Cerdanya and Bernard inherited Berga, which was short-lived, as Bernard died without issue and his successor, his brother Berenguer, abdicated of the county to Cerdanya to become Bishop of Girona (1050-1093). | |
Bernard I | c.1010 Second son of Wilfred II and Guisla of Pallars |
1035 –1050 | 1050 aged 39–40 |
County of Cerdanya (at Berga) |
Unmarried | ||
Berenguer | c.1010 Son of Wilfred II and Guisla of Pallars |
1050 | 1093 aged 57–58 |
County of Cerdanya (at Berga) |
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Regency of Velasquita-Constance of Besalú (1038-1050) | He was given the rule of Barbastro following its conquest during the Crusade of Barbastro (1064). | ||||||
Ermengol III of Barbastre El de Barbastre |
June 1032 Monzón Son of Ermengol II and Velasquita-Constance of Besalú |
1038 –17 April 1066 | 17 April 1066 Barbastre aged 33–34 |
County of Urgell | Adelaide of Besalú (d.1055) 1050 two children Clemence of Bigorre (d.1063) 1055 three children Sancha of Aragon 1063 no children |
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Ponce I | 990 Son of Hugh I and Guisla of Béziers |
1040 –1078 | 1078 aged 87–88 |
County of Empúries | Adelaide of Besalú (d.c.1050) 3 August 1364 eight children |
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William II Trunus El Tro |
c.1020 First son of William I and Adelaide of Provence |
1052 –1066 | 1066 or 25 January 1070 aged 45–46 or 49-50 |
County of Besalú | marriage agreement with Lucie de La Marche 1054, not fulfilledStephanie of Provence two children |
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Regency of Sancha of Aragon (1066-1075) | His second marriage expanded his authority into the Provençal County of Forcalquier. | ||||||
Ermengol IV of Gerb El de Gerb |
1056 Son of Ermengol III and Adelaide of Besalú |
17 April 1066 –11 March 1092 | 11 March 1092 Gerb aged 35–36 |
County of Urgell | Lucie of Upper Pallars (d.bef.1079) 1077 one child Adelaide, Countess of Forcalquier 1079 two children |
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Bernard II | c.1020 Second son of William I and Adelaide of Provence |
1066 –1097 | 1097 aged 56–57 |
County of Besalú | Ermengard of Empúries one child |
Probably intended as regent for his nephew, he took his place and ruled until his own death. | |
William I Raymond | c.1040 Son of Sunyer II and Ermengarda |
1068 –1095 | 1095 aged 54–55 |
County of Cerdanya | Adelaide of Carcassonne no children Isabella of Urgell 1071 no children Sancha of Barcelona (c.1058- aft. 13 April 1102) c.1080 two children |
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Giselbert II | c.1025 Son of Gausfred II and Ava Guisla of Rouergue |
1074 –1102 | 1102 aged 76–77 |
County of Roussillon | Stephanie one child |
Made a treaty with his cousin Ponce I of Empúries. | |
Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead El Cap d'Estopes |
c.1053 Girona First/Second son of Ramon Berenguer I and Almodis de La Marche |
26 June 1076 –6 December 1082 | 6 December 1082 Sant Feliu de Buixalleu aged 28–29 |
County of Barcelona | Mafalda of Apulia-Calabria 1078 Barcelona three children |
Twin children of Ramon Berenguer and Almodis, ascended jointly. Berenguer Ramon probably perpetrated his brother's murder (hence his cognomen). After the event, his nephew was associated to the co-rulership. | |
Berenguer Ramon II the Fratricide El Fratricida |
c.1053 First/Second son of Ramon Berenguer I and Almodis de La Marche |
26 June 1076 –1097 (joint rule 1076–1082) |
1097 Jerusalem aged 43–44 |
County of Barcelona | Unmarried | ||
Hugh II | 1035 Son of Ponce I and Adelaide of Besalú |
1078 –1116 | 1116 aged 80–81 |
County of Empúries | Sancha of Urgell c.1070 six children |
His brother Berenguer was the forefather of the Viscounts of Rocabertí. | |
Ramon Berenguer III the Great El Gran |
11 November 1082 Rodez Son of Ramon Berenguer II and Mafalda of Apulia-Calabria |
6 December 1082 –19 July 1131 | 19 July 1131 Barcelona aged 48 |
County of Barcelona | María Rodríguez de Vivarbr/>1103 two children Almodis de Mortain 1106 no children Douce I, Countess of Provence 3 February 1112 Arles seven children |
Ruled jointly with his uncle until 1097. His last marriage with the heiress of the County of Provence brought it under Barcelona domain. His reign saw a proliferation of Provençal culture in Catalonia. | |
1112 –19 July 1131 | County of Provence | ||||||
Ermengol V of Mollerussa El de Mollerussa |
1078 Son of Ermengol IV and Lucie of Upper Pallars |
11 March 1092 –11 September 1102 | 11 September 1102 Mollerussa aged 23–24 |
County of Urgell | María Pérez of Valladolid 1095 five children |
Children of Ermengol IV. Ermengol V was the first count since Ermengol I to not be a minor at the time of his accession. His marriage brought Urgell into the Leonese-Castilian court. William received his mother's inheritance in Forcalquier. | |
William III | c.1080 Son of Ermengol IV and Adelaide, Countess of Forcalquier |
1129 –7 October 1129 | 7 October 1129 Avignon aged 48–49 |
County of Forcalquier | Gersende of Albon c.1080 two children |
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William II Jordan | 1079 First son of William I and Sancha of Barcelona |
1095 –1109 | July/August 1109 Tripoli aged 29–30 |
County of Cerdanya | Unmarried | Died in crusade. He left no heirs and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Bernard III | c.1065 Son of William II and Stephanie of Provence |
1097 –1111 | 1111 aged 45–46 |
County of Besalú | Ximena, Countess of Osona (1105-1148) 1 October 1107 no children |
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Besalú annexed to Barcelona | |||||||
Girard I | c.1070? Son of Giselbert II and Stephanie |
1102 –1113 | 1113 aged 62–63 |
County of Roussillon | Agnes two children |
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Regency of Pedro Ansúrez, Lord of Valladolid (1102-1108) | His close bonds with the Castlian court (started by his father) rendered him his nickname. | ||||||
Ermengol VI of Castile El de Castella |
1096 Valladolid Son of Ermengol V and María Pérez of Valladolid |
1102 –28 June 1154 | 28 June 1154 aged 57–58 |
County of Urgell | Arsenda de Cabrera 1126 one child Elvira Rodríguez de Lara 1135 three children |
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Bernard | c.1080 Second son of William I and Sancha of Barcelona |
1109 –1118 | 1118 aged 37–38 |
County of Cerdanya | Teresa of Urgell no children Sancha de Álvar no children |
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Cerdanya annexed to Barcelona | |||||||
Regency of Arnau Gausfred of Roussillon (1113-1121) | |||||||
Gausfred III | 1103 Son of Girard I and Agnes |
1113 –24 February 1164 | 24 February 1164 aged 60–61 |
County of Roussillon | Ermengarde of Béziers (d.1156) c.1110 (annulled 1152) one child |
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Ponce II (Ponç Hug I) |
1070 Son of Hugh II and Sancha of Urgell |
1116 –1154 | 1154 aged 83–84 |
County of Empúries | Brunesilda (d.c.1175) one child |
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Guigues | c.1090? First son of William III of Forcalquier and Gersende of Albon |
7 October 1129 –1149 | 1149 aged 58–59 |
County of Forcalquier | Unknown one child |
His child probably predeceased him, as he was succeeded by his brother. | |
Berenguer Ramon I | February 1114 Son of Ramon Berenguer I and Douce I, Countess of Provence |
19 July 1131 – March 1144 | March 1144 Melgueil aged 30 |
County of Provence | Beatrice of Melgueil c.1135 one child |
Younger son, took and offensive against Genoa. | |
Ramon Berenguer IV the Saint El Sant |
c.1113 Barcelona or Rodez Son of Ramon Berenguer III and Douce I, Countess of Provence |
19 July 1131 –6 August 1162 | 6 August 1162 Borgo San Dalmazzo aged 48–49 |
County of Barcelona | Petronilla, Queen of Aragon August 1150 Lleida five children |
His marriage with the queen of Aragon united Barcelona and the Kingdom of Aragon. | |
Regency of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona (1144–1157) | In August 1161, he travelled to Turin with his uncle to obtain confirmation of his countship in Provence from the Emperor Frederick I, for Provence was legally a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. | ||||||
Ramon Berenguer II | c.1135 Son of Berenguer Ramon I and Beatrice of Melgueil |
March 1144 – March 1166 | March 1166 Nice aged 30–31 |
County of Provence | Richeza of Poland 17 November 1161 one child |
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Bertrand I | 1104 Second son of William III of Forcalquier and Gersende of Albon |
1149 –1151 | 1151 aged 46–47 |
County of Forcalquier | Josserande de la Flotte 1130 three children |
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Bertrand II | c.1130? First son of Bertrand I and Josserande de la Flotte |
1151 –13 May 1207 | 13 May 1207 aged 76–77 |
County of Forcalquier | Cecilia of Béziers two children |
Left no male heirs, and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Ermengol VII of Valencia El de València |
c.1130 Son of Ermengol VI and Arsenda of Cabrera |
28 June 1154 –11 August 1184 | 11 August 1184 Requena aged 26–27 |
County of Urgell | Douce of Foix (1143-13 February 1209) 1157 two children |
Continued the Castilian bonds of his ancestors: inherited Castilian land from his grandmother and was Majordomo of Ferdinand II of León. | |
Hugh III | c.1110/20 Son of Ponce II and Brunesilda |
1154 –1173 | 1173 aged 62–63? |
County of Empúries | Jessiana d'Entença (d.c.1195) five children |
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Petronilla | 29 June 1136 Huesca Daughter of Ramiro II of Aragon and Agnes of Aquitaine |
6 August 1162 –18 July 1164 | 15 October 1173 Barcelona aged 37 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Ramon Berenguer IV August 1150 Lleida five children |
After the death of her husband, she, as Queen of Aragon, assumed the reins of his lands until her own abdication. | |
Girard II | c.1120? Son of Gausfred III and Ermengarde of Béziers |
24 February 1164 – July 1172 | July 1172 aged 74–75 |
County of Roussillon | Unmarried | His will determined that the county should be inherited by his relative, Alfonso II of Aragon. | |
Roussillon annexed to Barcelona-Aragon | |||||||
Regency of Richeza of Poland (1166-1167) | She ruled a few months, as her half brother-in-law, Alfonso II of Aragon, claimed Provence for himself on the basis of the imperial enfeoffment of 1162. | ||||||
Douce II | c.1162 Daughter of Ramon Berenguer II and Richeza of Poland |
March 1166 – 1167 | 1172 Nice aged 9–10 |
County of Provence | Unmarried | ||
Council of Regency (1164-1172) | Formal union of the Kingdom of Aragon and Barcelona. Alfonso also reunited various feudal dependencies. In August 1161, he travelled to Turin with his uncle obtain the confirmation of his countship in Provence from the Emperor Frederick I, for Provence was legally a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1173, he gave the county to his younger brother Ramon Berenguer. However, he kept the title until his death in 1196. | ||||||
Alphonse I the Troubadour El Trobador |
1-25 March 1157 Huesca Son of Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronilla |
18 July 1164 – 25 April 1196 | 25 April 1196 Perpignan aged 44 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
marriage agreement with Mafalda of Portugal 1159-1162, not fulfilled Sancha of Castile 18 January 1174 Zaragoza seven children |
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1167 –1173 | County of Provence | ||||||
Peter Ramon Berenguer III |
c.1158 Son of Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona and Petronilla of Aragon |
1162-1168 | 5 April 1181 Montpellier aged 22–23 |
County of Cerdanya-Roussillon | Unmarried | Abdicated of Cerdanya to his brother Sancho. In 1173, assuming the county of Provence, changed his name to Ramon Berenguer. In 1176, he joined Sancho in conquering Nice from Genoa. He was assassinated. | |
1173–5 April 1181 | County of Provence | ||||||
Sancho | c.1161 Son of Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona and Petronilla of Aragon |
1168-1223 | 1223 Montpellier aged 61–62 |
County of Cerdanya-Roussillon | Ermesinde of Rocabertí 1184 one child Sancha Núñez de Lara 1185 one child |
Received from his brother the counties of Cerdanya and Roussillon, and in 1181, received also the County of Roussillon, in the sequence of the same brother's death. In 1184, Sancho signed a treaty of alliance with the count of Forcalquier, the count of Toulouse and the Republic of Genoa agreeing to oppose the king of Aragon's efforts to dominate Genoa and to take the city of Marseille from him. Abdicated from Provence in 1185, but ruled in Cerdanya-Roussillon until his death. | |
1181–1185 | County of Provence | ||||||
Ponce III (Ponç Hug II) |
1135 Son of Hugh III and Jessiana d'Entença |
1173 –1200 | 1200 aged 64–65 |
County of Empúries | Adelaide of Montcada two children Ermesinde of Peratellada no children |
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Ermengol VIII of Sant Hilari El de Sant Hilari |
1158 Son of Ermengol VII and Douce of Foix |
11 August 1184 –1209 | 1209 Sant Hilari Sacalm aged 50–51 |
County of Urgell | Elvira Núñez de Lara (1145-1220) one child |
Ensured his daughter's succession to the county. | |
Alphonse II | 1180 Barcelona Son of Alfonso I and Sancha of Castile |
1185 –2 February 1209 | 2 February 1209 Palermo aged 28–29 |
County of Provence | Garsenda, Countess of Forcalquier July 1193 Aix-en-Provence one child |
His reign was marked by his conflicts with the count of Forcalquier, to whose granddaughter he was married. | |
Peter I the Catholic El Catòlic |
July 1178 Huesca Son of Alfons I and Sancha of Castile |
25 April 1196 – 13 September 1213 | 12 September 1213 Battle of Muret aged 35 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Marie of Montpellier 15 June 1204 two children |
Died in the Battle of Muret, in which he retaliated the Cathar Crusade. | |
Hugh IV | 1170 Son of Ponce III and Adelaide of Montcada |
1200 –April 1230 | April 1230 Majorca aged 59–60 |
County of Empúries | Maria, Lady of Vilademuls 19 June 1373 five children |
Joined the Conquest of Majorca. | |
William IV | c.1130 Second son of Bertrand I and Josserande de la Flotte |
13 May 1207 –7 October 1209 | 7 October 1209 aged 78–79 |
County of Forcalquier | Adelaide of Béziers one child |
Left a daughter, Garsenda, who predeceased him; he was succeeded by his granddaughter, also named Garsenda. | |
Garsenda | c.1180 Daughter of Rainou of Sabran and Garsenda of Forcalquier |
7 October 1209 –1222 | 1242 aged 60–61 |
County of Forcalquier (House of Sabran) |
Alfonso II, Count of Provence July 1193 Aix-en-Provence one child |
In 1222, she abdicated for her son, and Forcalquier was absorbed by Provence. | |
Forcalquier annexed to Provence | |||||||
Regency of Garsenda, Countess of Forcalquier (1209–1220) | Supporter of the Provençal lyric and culture and the Albigensian Crusade. He also helped his father-in-law in his conflict with Turin and Guigues VI of Viennois. His surviving four daughters all married kings, causing a dispute about his succession. | ||||||
Ramon Berenguer IV | 1198 Son of Alfonso II and Garsenda, Countess of Forcalquier |
February 1209 –19 August 1245 | 19 August 1245 Aix-en-Provence aged 46–47 |
County of Provence | Beatrice of Savoy 5 June 1219 Aix-en-Provence six children |
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Regency of Elvira Núnez de Lara (1209-1220) | Made a treaty of concubinage with James I of Aragon in 1209, and was his concubine until 1228. Some authors argue that the claimant Guerau IV of Cabrera had effective control of the county during her stay in the Aragonese court (1213-1228). In 1229, she married Peter of Portugal, and made him her co-ruler. | ||||||
Aurembiaix | 1196 Balaguer Daughter of Ermengol VIII and Elvira Núnez de Lara |
1209 –1231 | 1231 Balagueraged 34–35 |
County of Urgell | marriage agreement with James I of Aragon 1209, not fulfilled Álvaro Pérez de Castro 1212 (annulled 1228) no children Peter of Portugal 1229 no children |
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Peter (I) of Portugal | 23 February 1187 Coimbra Sixth son of Sancho I of Portugal and Dulce of Aragon |
1229 –1231 | 2 June 1258 Balearic Islands aged 71 |
County of Urgell | Aurembiaix, Countess of Urgell 1229 no children |
Co-ruler with his wife. He then ruled the Balearic Islands (1231–44 and 1254–56). | |
Regency of Sancho, Count of Cerdanya (1213-1218) | In his reign, by the Treaty of Corbeil (1258) with Louis IX of France, Aragon formally renounced all possessions beyond the Pyrenees; In compensation, Aragon-Barcelona expands its borders south against the Moors; Aragon conquers also the Balearic Islands, where it is established the Kingdom of Majorca. | ||||||
James I the Conqueror El Conqueridor |
2 February 1208 Montpellier Son of Peter I the Catholic and Marie of Montpellier |
13 September 1213 – 27 July 1276 | 27 July 1276 Valencia aged 68 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
marriage agreement with Aurembiaix, Countess of Urgell 1209, not fulfilled Eleanor of Castile 6 February 1221 Ágreda one child Violant of Hungary 8 September 1235 Barcelona ten children Teresa Gil de Vidaure (lover, then wife) 1255 (uncanonical marriage, repudiated 1260) two children |
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Nuño Sancho | 1185 Son of Sancho and Sancha Núñez de Lara |
1223-1242 | 1242 aged 56–57 |
County of Cerdanya-Roussillon | Petronilla, Countess of Bigorre 1215 (annulled 1216) no children Teresa López de Haro 1234 no children |
After his death without heirs, the county was briefly annexed to Barcelona-Aragon. | |
Cerdanya-Roussillon briefly annexed to Barcelona-Aragon | |||||||
Ponce IV (Ponç Hug III) |
1205 Son of Hugh IV and Maria of Vilademuls |
April 1230 –1269 | 1269 aged 63–64 |
County of Empúries | Benedetta of Torres no children Teresa Fernández de Lara 1234 four children |
His brother, Ponce Hugh, was the forefather of the House of Entença. | |
Ponce | 1216 First son of Guerau IV de Cabrera and Eylo Pérez de Castro |
1231 –1243 | 1243 aged 26–27 |
County of Urgell (House of Cabrera) |
María González Girón six children |
Grandson of Marquesa, daughter of Ermengol VII. After a period of dynastic squabbles James I of Aragon acknowledged him as the successor to the County of Urgell. | |
Regency of María González Girón and James of Cervera (1243) | Died as a minor. He was succeeded by his brother. | ||||||
Ermengol IX | 1235 First son of Ponce and María González Girón |
1243 | 1243 Balaguer aged 7–8 |
County of Urgell (House of Cabrera) |
Unmarried | ||
Regency of María González Girón and James of Cervera (1243-1253) | |||||||
Álvaro the Castilian El Castellà |
1239 Burgos Second son of Ponce and María González Girón |
1243 –1268 | 1268 Foix aged 28–29 |
County of Urgell (House of Cabrera) |
Constance of Béarn Cecilia of Foix (c.1235-1270) 1256 three children |
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Beatrice | 1229 Daughter of Ramon Berenguer IV and Beatrice of Savoy |
19 August 1245 –23 September 1267 | 23 September 1267 Nocera Inferiore aged 37–38 |
County of Provence | Charles I, King of Sicily 31 January 1246 Aix-en-Provence seven children |
Her inheritance caused tense relations with her sisters; Her husband installed his French court in Provence and, after her death, inherited the county. | |
Provence annexed to the Kingdom of Naples | |||||||
Regency of Cecilia of Foix (1268-1270) and Roger-Bernard III, Count of Foix (1268-1278) | |||||||
Ermengol X | 1254 Son of Álvaro and Cecilia of Foix |
1268 –1314 | 1314 Camporrélls aged 59–60 |
County of Urgell (House of Cabrera) |
Sybille of Montcada no children Faydida of L'Isle-Jourdain 1300 no children |
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Hugh V | 1240 Son of Ramon Berenguer and Teresa Fernández de Lara |
1269 –1277 | 1277 Majorca aged 59–60 |
County of Empúries | Sybilla de Palau 1262 two children |
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Peter II the Great El Gran |
July or August 1240 Valencia Son of James I and Violant of Hungary |
27 July 1276 – 2 November 1285 | 2 November 1285 Vilafranca del Penedès aged 45 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Constance of Sicily 13 June 1262 Montpellier six children |
Children of James I, divided their possessions. Peter kept Aragon and the majority of the counties, and James inherited Majorca and the more remote counties (Roussillon and Cerdanya). In Peter's reign, Aragon conquers the Kingdom of Sicily, during the Sicilian Vespers. | |
James II | 31 May 1243 Montpellier Son of James I of Aragon and Violant of Hungary |
27 July 1276 – 29 May 1311 | 29 May 1311 Palma de Mallorca aged 68 |
County of Cerdanya-Roussillon (with Kingdom of Majorca, 1276–86; 1295–1311) |
Esclaramunda of Foix 1275 six children |
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Ponce V (Ponç Hug IV) |
1264 Son of Hugh V and Sybilla de Palau |
1277 –1313 | 1313 aged 48–49 |
County of Empúries | Marquesa de Cabrera (1265-1328) 1282 three children |
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Alphonse II the Liberal El Liberal |
4 November 1265 Valencia Son of Peter II and Constance of Sicily |
2 November 1285 – 18 June 1291 | 18 June 1291 Barcelona aged 27 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Eleanor of England 15 August 1290 (by proxy and not consummated; death of the groom during bride's way to Aragon) |
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James II the Just El Just |
10 August 1267 Valencia Son of Peter II and Constance of Sicily |
18 June 1291 – 2 November 1327 | 5 November 1327 Barcelona aged 60 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Isabella of Castile 1 December 1291 Soria no children Blanche of Anjou 29 October or 1 November 1295 Vilabertran ten children Marie de Lusignan 15 June 1315(by proxy) Nicosia 27 November 1315 (in person) Girona no children Elisenda de Montcada 25 December 1322 Tarragona no children |
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Sancho |
1276 Perpignan Son of James II of Majorca and Esclaramunda of Foix |
29 May 1311 –4 September 1324 | 4 September 1324 Formiguera aged 48 |
County of Cerdanya-Roussillon (with Kingdom of Majorca) |
Maria of Naples 20 September 1304 no children |
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Ponce VI Malgaulí (?) (Ponç Hug V) |
1290 Second son of Ponce V and Marquesa de Cabrera |
1313 –1322 | 1322 aged 31–32 |
County of Empúries | Sybilla of Narbonne no children Elisabeth of Sicily 1313 one child |
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Teresa | 1300 Daughter of Gombau d'Entença and Constance of Antillón |
1314 – 20 October 1327 | 20 October 1327 Zaragoza aged 26–27 |
County of Urgell (House of Entença) |
Alfonso IV of Aragon 1314 Lerida seven children |
Daughter of Constance, niece of Ermengol X. She married the heir to the crown of Aragon, and by this, she returned the county to the House of Barcelona. | |
Regency of Elisabeth of Sicily (1322) | Died as a minor. The county passed to Hug de Cardona, the nearest relative of the family. | ||||||
Marquesa | 1322 Daughter of Ponce VI and Elisabeth of Sicily |
1322 | 1327 aged 4–5 |
County of Empúries | Unmarried | ||
Hugh VI | 1307 Son of Ramon Folch VI of Cardona and María Alfonso de Haro |
1322 –1325 | 1334 aged 26–27 |
County of Empúries (House of Folch de Cardona) |
Unmarried | Grandson of Sybilla, daughter of Ponç IV. Also Viscount of Cardona. He was deposed by James II of Aragon, who replaced him with his own son. | |
James III | 5 April 1315 Catania Son of Ferdinand of Majorca and Isabelle of Sabran |
4 September 1324 –1344 | 25 October 1349 Llucmajor aged 34 |
County of Cerdanya-Roussillon (with Kingdom of Majorca) |
Constance of Aragon two children Violante of Vilaragut 10 November 1347 one child |
Nephew of Sancho. Deposed by Peter the Ceremonious, in his attempt to reunite the domains of the Crown of Aragon. | |
Cerdanya-Roussillon reabsorbed in Barcelona | |||||||
Peter I | 1305 Barcelona Eighth son of James II and Blanche of Anjou |
1325 –1341 | 4 November 1381 Pisa aged 74–75 |
County of Empúries | Joanna of Foix (d.1358)12 May 1331 Castelló d'Empúries four children |
Son of James II of Aragon, he was appointed as count of Empúries. Abdicated to his brother in 1341. | |
Alphonse III the Kind El Benigne |
2 November 1299 Naples Son of James II and Blanche of Anjou |
2 November 1327 – 24 January 1336 | 27 January 1336 Barcelona aged 37 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Teresa d'Entença 1314 Lerida seven children Eleanor of Castile 5 February 1329 Tarazona two children |
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James I | 1321 Zaragoza Fourth son of Alphonse III and Teresa d'Entença |
20 October 1327 –15 November 1347 | 15 November 1347 Barcelona aged 25–26 |
County of Urgell | Cecilia of Comminges 1335 two children |
Son of Alfonso IV of Aragon (III as Count of Barcelona), he was appointed as count of Urgell. | |
Peter III the Ceremonious El Cerimoniós |
5 October 1319 Balaguer Son of Alphonse III and Teresa d'Entença |
24 January 1336 – 5 January 1387 | 5 January 1387 Barcelona aged 68 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Maria of Navarre 25 July 1337 Zaragoza two children Leonor of Portugal 14 or 15 November 1347 Barcelona no children Eleanor of Sicily 27 August 1349 Valencia four children Sibila of Fortia 11 October 1377 Barcelona three children |
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Ramon Berenguer | 1308 Barcelona Fifth son of James II and Blanche of Anjou |
1341 –1364 | 1366 aged 57–58 |
County of Empúries | Blanche of Taranto (1309-1337) 1327 two children María Alvárez de Xérica (1310-1364) 1338 Valencia one child |
Abdicated of the county to his son, and died two years later. | |
Regency of Cecilia of Comminges (1347-1357) | |||||||
Peter II | 1340 Son of James I and Cecilia of Comminges |
15 November 1347 –1408 | 1408 Balaguer aged 67–68 |
County of Urgell | Beatrice of Cardona 22 August 1363 no children Margaret Palaiologina of Montferrat 1375 eight children |
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John I the Old El Vell |
1338 Son of Ramon Berenguer and María Alvárez de Xérica |
1364 –1398 | 1398 Castellví de Rosanes aged 59–60 |
County of Empúries | Blanche of Sicily (1342-1370) 3 August 1364 one child Joanna of Aragon 19 June 1373 five children |
During his reign, in 1386–1387, the county was briefly occupied by Barcelona-Aragon. | |
John the Hunter El Caçador |
27 December 1350 Perpignan Son of Peter III and Eleanor of Sicily |
5 January 1387 – 19 May 1396 | 19 May 1396 Foixà aged 46 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
marriage agreement with Jeanne-Blanche of France 1370-1371, not fulfilled Martha of Armagnac 24 June 1373 Barcelona five children Violant of Bar 2 February 1380 Perpignan seven children |
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Martin the Humanist l'Humà |
1356 Girona Son of Peter III and Eleanor of Sicily |
19 May 1396 – 31 May 1410 | 31 May 1410 Barcelona aged 54 |
County of Barcelona (with Kingdom of Aragon) |
Maria de Luna 13 June 1372 Barcelona four children Margaret of Prades 17 September 1409 Barcelona no children |
Left no surviving heirs at the time of his death. Barcelona (and Aragon) entered in a period of convulsion that ended with the Compromise of Caspe (1412). | |
John II | c.1375 First son of John I and Joanna of Aragon |
1398 –1401 | 1401 Castelló d'Empúries aged 74–75 |
County of Empúries | Elsa of Cardona (d.1420) no children |
Left no heirs, and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Peter II | 1377 Second son of John I and Joanna of Aragon |
1401 –1402 | 1402 aged 23–24 |
County of Empúries | 20 October 1399 no children |
Son of James II of Aragon, he was appointed as count of Empúries. | |
Joana of Rocabertí | 1358 Daughter of Philip Dalmau I of Rocabertí and Esclarmunda of Fenollet |
1402 | 1416 aged 57–58 |
County of Empúries | Widow of Peter II, ruled for a brief period before the county was annexed to Aragon. | ||
Empúries annexed to Barcelona | |||||||
James II the Unlucky El Dissortat |
1380 Balaguer First son of Peter II and Margaret Palaiologina of Montferrat |
1408 –1413 | 1 June 1433 Xàtiva aged 52–23 |
County of Urgell | Isabella of Aragon 29 June 1407 Valencia five children |
Pretender in the Aragonese War of Succession (1410–12), which caused him the loss of his properties. In 1413 Urgell was annexed to Aragon. | |
Urgell annexed to the Kingdom of Aragon |
Catalan Counties under House of Pallars
(Note: According to some authors, the county of Pallars (and by extension Ribagorça) aren't exactly part of the Catalan group of counties )
Partitions of the Catalan counties under Pallars domain
County of Pallars (872-1011) |
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County of Ribagorça (920-1017) |
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County of Upper Pallars (Pallars Sobirá) (1011-1487) (Inherited by the Houses of Comminges (1229-1330) and Mataplana (1330-1487)) |
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County of Lower Pallars (Pallars Jussá) (1011-1192) |
To the Taifa of Zaragoza (1017-1018) To Pamplona (1018-1035) To Aragon (1035-1162) To Barcelona/Aragon (from 1162) |
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To Barcelona/Aragon (from 1192) |
Table of rulers
Ruler | Born | Reign | Death | Ruling part | Consort | Notes | |
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Raymond I | ? | 872-920 | 920 | County of Pallars | Guinigenta (d.c.865) five children A daughter of Mutarrif ibn Lop no children |
Probably a son of Lop I, Count of Bigorre. | |
Bernard I | ? | 920-955 | 955 | County of Ribagorça | Toda of Aragon two children |
Children of Raymond I, divided the land. The eldest, Bernard, received Ribagorça; the younger ones received Pallars and ruled it together. Bernard was probably the father of the countess Ava of Cerdanya. | |
Loup I | ? | 920-947 | 947 | County of Pallars | Goldregoda of Cerdanya (d.c.960) five children |
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Isarn | ? | 920-948 | 948 | County of Pallars | 1. Senegunda 2. Adelaide two children (in total) |
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Raymond II | ? | 948-992 | 992 | County of Pallars | Unmarried | Children of Loup, Raymond, Borrell and Sunyer ruled jointly. After Borrell's death, his son Ermengol was associated to the co-rulership. After Sunyer's death in 1011, Ermengol was forced out of power by his cousins, sons of Sunyer, who split the county between them. | |
Borrell I | ? | 948-995 | 995 | County of Pallars | Ermengard of Rouergue six children |
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Sunyer I | ? | 948-1011 | 1011 | County of Pallars | Toda, Countess of Ribagorça (d.1019) five children |
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Ermengol | ? | 995-1011 | 1030 | County of Pallars | Unmarried | ||
Bernard I | ? | 955-970 | 970 | County of Ribagorça | Garsende of Fézensac six children |
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Unifred | ? | 970-979 | 979 | County of Ribagorça | Sancha no children |
Left no heirs, and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Arnaud | ? | 979-990 | 990 | County of Ribagorça | Unmarried | He also left no heirs, and was succeeded by his younger brother. | |
Isarn | ? | 990-1003 | 1003 | County of Ribagorça | Unmarried | Left no legitimate heirs, and was succeeded by his sister. | |
Toda | ? | 1003-1011 | 1019 | County of Ribagorça | Sunyer I five children |
Abdicated in 1011 to her nephew, illegitimate son of her brother Isarn. | |
Raymond III | c.995 | 1011-1047 | 1047 | County of Lower Pallars | Mayor García of Castile (d.1035) c.1010 (annulled 1020) no children Ermesinde three children |
Children of Sunyer, divided the county of Pallars between them. Through his wife Mayor, Raymond was involved in the Ribagorzan succession, as Mayor was a maternal granddaughter of Raymond II of Ribagorza. However, their divorce place Raymond on Mayor's opposte side, and supporting the claim of Sancho III of Pamplona. | |
William II | c.995 | 1011-1035 | 1035 | County of Upper Pallars | Stephanie of Urgell (I) four children |
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William Isarn | ? | 1011-1017 | 955 | County of Ribagorça | Unmarried | Illegitimate son of Isarn. His death caused a succession crisis in the county. One small part went to Lower Pallars, while the rest, after a brief possession by the Taifa of Zaragoza, was annexed to the Kingdom of Pamplona and then inherited by the Kingdom of Aragon. | |
Ribagorça annexed to the Taifa of Zaragoza (1017-1018), the Kingdom of Pamplona (1018-1035), and then inherited by the Kingdom of Aragon | |||||||
Bernard II | ? | 1035-1049 | 1049 | County of Upper Pallars | Unmarried | Left no heirs and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Raymond IV | ? | 1047-1098 | 1098 | County of Lower Pallars | Valença of Tost 1056 four children |
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Artaud I | 1010 | 1049-1081 | 1081 | County of Upper Pallars | Constance (d.bef.1058) 1050 three children Lucie of La Marche (d.1090) 1058 one child |
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Artaud II | ? | 1081-1124 | 1124 | County of Upper Pallars | Eslonza Martínez 1085 one child |
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Arnaud Raymond | ? | 1098-1111 | 1111 | County of Lower Pallars | Almodis of Cerdanya two children Adelaide one child |
Elder children of Raymond IV, ruled jointly. | |
Peter Raymond | ? | 1098-1113 | 1113 | County of Lower Pallars | Unmarried | ||
Bernard Raymond | ? | 1113-1124 | 1124 | County of Lower Pallars | Toda one child |
Younger child of Raymond IV. | |
Artaud III | ? | 1124-1167 | 1167 | County of Upper Pallars | Agnes 1130 two children Jimena Pérez de Alagón one child |
From his second wife's child, developed a branch of the family, which used and continued the maternal surname Alagón. | |
Arnaud Miro | 1113 | 1124-1174 | 1174 | County of Lower Pallars | Stephanie of Urgell (II) (annulled) no children Oria d'Entença c.1145 two children |
Son of Arnald Raymond. | |
Artaud IV | 1110/32 | 1167-1182 | 1182 | County of Upper Pallars | Guillema two children |
Son of Artald III and Agnes. | |
Raymond V | ? | 1174-1178 | September 1178 | County of Lower Pallars | Unknown 1167 one child Anglesa of Cardona (d.1177) no children |
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Regency of Oria d'Entença (1178-c.1180) | Left no children. She nominated her grandfather's cousin Douce as her heir. | ||||||
Valença | 1167 | 1178-1182 | 1182 | County of Lower Pallars | Unmarried | ||
Regency of Guillema (1182-c.1185) | Left no children, and was succeeded by his sister. | ||||||
Bernard III | 1170 | 1182-1199 | 1199 | County of Upper Pallars | Unmarried | ||
Douce | ? | 1182-1192 | 1198 | County of Lower Pallars | Unmarried | Daughter of Bernard Raymond, and the last living member of the Lower Pallars branch. In 1192 she donated the county to the County of Barcelona. | |
Lower Pallars annexed to the County of Barcelona | |||||||
Guillema | 1180 | 1199-1229 | 1250 | County of Upper Pallars | Guilhem d'Erill no children Roger I, Count of Upper Pallars 1216 no children |
Sister of Bernard. Associated her husband to the county in 1216. In 1229, she retired to a monastic life, and left her husband the entire county. As they didn't have children, the Pallars dynasty was deemed extinct after Guillema's death. | |
Roger I | 1182 | 1216-1236 | 1240 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Comminges) |
Unknown before 1216 at least one son Guillema, Countess of Upper Pallars no children |
Also Viscount of Couserans. Had no children from his first wife, but she left him the county in 1229. He abdicated to his son (from his second wife) in 1236. | |
Roger II | ? | 1236-1256 | 1256 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Comminges) |
Sybilla of Berga 1234 two children |
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Arnald Roger I | 1236 | 1256-1288 | 1288 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Comminges) |
Sancha of Villamur no children Lucretia Lascaris of Ventimglia 1281 three children |
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Raymond Roger I | c.1240 | 1288-1295 | 1295 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Comminges) |
Blanca de Bellera no children |
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Sybilla | 1282 | 1295-1330 | 1330 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Comminges) |
Hug VII, Lord of Mataplana 1297 seven children |
Daughter of Arnald Roger. | |
Arnald Roger II | 1299 | 1330-1343 | 1343 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Alamanda of Rocabertí (d.1320/21) 1320 no children Urraca d'Entença (d.1332) 1321 no children Eleanor of Comminges 1340 no children |
Son of Sybilla and Hugh VII, Lord of Mataplana. Left no heirs and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Raymond Roger II | 1305 | 1343-1350 | 1350 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Sybilla of Cardona 1322 six children |
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Hugh Roger I | 1322 | 1350-1366 | 1366 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Geralda de Cruïlles 1342 four children |
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Arnald Roger III | 1347 | 1366-1369 | 1369 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Beatrice of Requesens 1363 no children |
Left no heirs, and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Hugh Roger II | 1350 | 1369-1416 | 1416 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Blanche of Foix-Castelbon 1368 eight children |
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Roger Bernard | 1370 | 1416-1424 | 1424 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Beatrice of Cardona 1390 two children |
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Bernard Roger | c.1400 | 1424-1442 | 1442 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Unmarried | Left no heirs, and was succeeded by his brother. | |
Arnald Roger IV | 1401 | 1442-1451 | 1451 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Joana of Cardona 1421 four children |
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Hugh Roger III | 1430 | 1451-1487 | 26 November 1508 | County of Upper Pallars (House of Mataplana) |
Caterina Albert 1478 two children |
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Upper Pallars annexed to the Aragonese House of Trastámara |
The House of Trastámara and successors
House of Trastámara (1412-1516) and the Catalan Civil War (1462-1472)
Martin died without legitimate descendants (interregnum 31 May 1410 – 24 June 1412). By the Compromise of Caspe of 1412 the County of Barcelona and the rest of the dominions of the Crown of Aragon passed to a branch of the House of Trastamara.
Name | Portrait | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Ferdinand I the Honest | 3 September 1412 – 2 April 1416 | He was the nephew of Martin I and the first Count of Barcelona of the House of Trastámara. | |
Alphonse IV the Magnanimous | 2 April 1416 – 27 June 1458 | He was the son of Ferdinand I. | |
John II the Faithless or the Just | 27 June 1458 – 1462 | He was the brother of Alphonse IV. The Catalans confronted him during the Catalan Civil War and in 1462 transferred the title of count to another Trastamara House pretender | |
During the Catalan Civil War, a war between the Catalan government and the king|John II, the Catalan authorities transferred the title of Count of Barcelona to a succession of 3 foreign sovereigns. | |||
Henry I the ... (House of Trastámara) |
1462 - 1463 | He was the Ferdinand I grandson and thus also from the Trastámara House. | |
Peter IV of Portugal (House of Aviz) |
1463 – 1466 | He was the greatgrandson of Peter III. | |
René I (House of Valois-Anjou) |
1466 – 1472 | He was the grandson of John the Hunter. He was also the Count of Provence. | |
After the Catalan Civil War, the House of Trastámara was restituted as tenants of the Count of Barcelona title and thus sovereigns of the Principality of Catalonia. | |||
John II the Faithless or the Just | 1472 – 20 January 1479 | He was the brother of Alphonse IV. The Catalans confronted him during the Catalan Civil War and afterward reinstated him as Count of Barcelona. | |
Ferdinand II | 20 January 1479 – 23 January 1516 | He was the son of John II. | |
Joanna | 23 January 1516 – 12 April 1555 | She was the daughter of Ferdinand II. Her rule was nominal as it was his son Charles who co-ruler. |
The Houses of Habsburg and Bourbon 1516-1808
Name | Portrait | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Charles I (emperor) | 14 March 1516 – 12 April 1555 (as regent) 12 April 1555 – 16 January 1556 (as sole ruler) |
He was the son of Queen Joanna and Philip I of Castile. Till the death of her mother, in 1555, he was regent but the de facto ruler. From 155 to 1556, he was the sole ruler. As he was not the Count (till her mother died) and had good relations with Catalan authorities, they awarded him the title of Prince of Catalonia. | |
Philip I | 16 January 1556 – 13 September 1598 | He was the son of Charles I. | |
Philip II | 13 September 1598 – 31 March 1621 | He was the son of Philip I. | |
Philip III | 31 March 1621 – 1641 | He was the son of Philip II. He wanted to reduce the Catalan sovereignties, and the Catalan authorities confronted him during the Reapers' War. The title of Count of Barcelona was transferred by the Catalan Courts to the House of Bourbon in France. | |
Louis I (Louis XIII of France) 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643 |
1641–1643 | During the Reapers' War, the States-General (Braços Generals) of the Principality of Catalonia on 21 January 1641 declared the French king Louis XIII Count of Barcelona as Louis I. | |
Louis II (Louis XIV of France) 5 September 1638 – 1 September 1715 |
1643–1652 and 1697 | He inherits the title of Count of Barcelona from his father during the Reapers' War. In 1652 he renounces the title in favor of Philip III in exchange for the Roussillon. | |
Philip III | 1641 – 17 September 1665 | He was the son of Philip II. He was reinstated as Count of Barcelona. | |
Charles II | 17 September 1665 – 1 November 1700 | He was the son of Philip III. In 1697 the Duke of Vendôme briefly re-conquers Catalan capital city of Barcelona, and Louis XIV of France was reinstated as Count of Barcelona for some months. On January 9, 1698, Catalonia is returned to Charles II after signing the Treaty of Rijswijk. | |
Philip IV | 1700 – 1705 | Philip was a great-grandson of Philip III, and Charles was a cousin of thesame king. Charles II's testament in favor of the former destabilized Western Europe because it meant too much power for the Kingdom of France. The rest of the European powers tried to impose another pretender to the Crown of Spain: the Archduke Charles of Austria. The Catalans were caught in the middle of this major conflict: the Spanish Succession War. They initially supported Philip of Anjou but afterward shifted their allegeance towards Archduke Charles, who was committed to maintaining the composite monarchy system and thus respect the Catalan Constitutions. In 1714, Philip owned the Spanish possessions of the Habsburgs. | |
Charles III | 1705 – 1714 |
House of Bourbon (Spanish branch) 1714-1808
In 1714, Catalan lost their war (within the Spanish war of Succession conflict) against the remaining sole pretender to the Crown of Spain: Philip of Anjou. Through the Nueva Planta decrees, the new king Philip V abolished the Catalan Constitutions and dissolved the Crown of Aragon. The Principality of Catalonia became another province of the Crown of Castille, and thus the title of Count of Barcelona was emptied of real political significance and power. Since then, the numbering of the Counts of Barcelona follows that of the Crown of Castille. That is the reason why Philip of Anjou was called by the Catalan Authorities 'Felip IV' in 1702 but called himself 'Felipe V' when he sized the title of Count of Barcelona in 1714, after winning the war against the Catalans.
House of Bonaparte 1808-1813
In 1808 Charles IV and his son Ferdinand resign from their Crown of Spain titles and transfer them to Emperor Napoleon, who kept for himself the title of Count of Barcelona. By 1812, once he had full military control over the Principality of Catalonia, he separated it from the Crown of Spain and annexed it to the French Empire.
Name | Portrait | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Napoleon I, Emperor | 1808–1813 | Napoleon annexed Catalonia to the French Empire as 4 new departments. In 1813 it was returned to Spain. |
House of Bourbon (Reannexation to Spain) 1813-1931; 1975-present day
After the Napoleonic Wars, Barcelona returned to Spanish domain. During the 2nd Spanish Republic and Francoist Dictatorship the Bourbons remained in exile and retained their dinastic titles, including 'Count of Barcelona'. Although on 26 July 1947, Spain was declared a kingdom, no monarch was designated until 1969, when Franco established Juan Carlos of Bourbon as his official heir-apparent. With the death of Franco on 20 November 1975, Juan Carlos became the King of Spain.
Name | Portrait | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
John III (Juan III) |
1977–1993 | claimed the title from 1941; officially granted by his son Juan Carlos I as a courtesy in exchange for renouncing his claim to the Spanish throne |
Timeline
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See also
In Spanish: Condados catalanes para niños