Gaucelm facts for kids

Gaucelm was an important leader in the Frankish kingdom during the time of Emperor Louis the Pious. He was a count, which meant he governed a region. He started as the Count of Roussillon around the year 800. Later, he also became the Count of Empúries in 817. This made him a very powerful person in that part of the kingdom, which was called Gothia (now parts of France and Spain).

Gaucelm's Family and Early Role

Gaucelm was the son of a famous Frankish leader named William of Gellone. His mother was Gunegunde. Around 790, his father gave him the county of Roussillon to govern. This area was part of his father's large lands in Septimania, which was centered around Toulouse. At that time, Roussillon also included Vallespir.

Gaucelm was a Frank, and he strongly supported the ongoing wars against the Moors, who were people from North Africa. His brother, Bernard of Septimania, also supported him. However, another count named Bera, who was a Visigoth, wanted peace with the Moors. This difference in opinion led to conflicts.

Political Struggles and New Lands

After some time, Bera was removed from his position. Gaucelm had hoped to gain Bera's lands and titles, but he didn't get them right away. However, his brother Bernard later received two of these important areas: Barcelona and Besalú, in February 826. It's not completely clear if the third area, Girona, went to Bernard or Gaucelm himself.

Gaucelm helped defeat Bera's son, Guillemundus, and his helper, Aisso, in Barcelona and Girona around 827. Because of his help, Gaucelm received the counties of Razès and Conflent. These areas had previously been ruled by Guillemundus.

When his brother Bernard was away from Septimania (from April 829 to April 830), Gaucelm also took charge of Bernard's lands and titles. These included Uzès, Nîmes, Melguelh, Agde, Béziers, Narbonne, Besalú, and Barcelona. This shows how much trust was placed in Gaucelm.

Rebellion and Final Battle

In the autumn of 831, Pepin I of Aquitaine, who was Emperor Louis the Pious's son, started a rebellion against his father. Gaucelm and his brother Bernard chose to support Pepin.

However, the emperor's forces quickly took over Bernard's lands. In February 832, at a meeting in Aachen, the entire region was given to Charles the Bald, another son of the emperor. Gaucelm and Bernard were removed from their positions later that year.

Gaucelm tried to resist and held out in Empúries. But in 833, after some discussions, he gave up his fight. He then retired with a companion named Sanila to some family properties in Burgundy.

Gaucelm and Sanila were killed the next year in a battle at Chalon-sur-Saône. They were fighting for Emperor Louis the Pious against another of his sons, Lothair.

Sources

• Lewis, Archibald R. The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718–1050. University of Texas Press: Austin, 1965.

See also

In Spanish: Gaucelmo de Rosellón para niños