Catalan counties

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The Catalan counties (Catalan: Comtats Catalans, IPA: [kumˈtats kətəˈlans]) were those surviving counties of the Hispanic March and the southernmost part of the March of Gothia that were later united to form the Principality of Catalonia.

In 778, Charlemagne led the first military Frankish expedition into Hispania to create the Hispanic March, a military buffer zone between the Emirate of Córdoba of Al-Andalus and the Frankish Empire. The territory that he subdued would in later centuries be the kernel of Catalonia (not yet known like that since the first written mention of Catalonia is in 1113). 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 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. The Count of Barcelona Ramon Berenguer IV, married the heiress to the Aragonese throne Petronilla of Aragon in 1150, uniting as equals the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of Barcelona. Thus, their son, Alfonso II of Aragon, became the first king of the Crown of Aragon.

Creation

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The Hispanic March counties between the late 8th and 12th centuries that would become the Principality of Catalonia

The reconquista from the Moors by the Franks began in 785.[1] In 785, Rostany (or Rostaing) was made Count of Girona, the first, of what would later become the Catalan counties, to be established. Besalú and Empúries were originally part of Girona. When Urgell and Cerdanya were conquered by Carolingian forces around 798, they were also made counties of the Hispanic March 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, in the greatest military triumph of his long career, Louis the Pious, son of Charlamagne, took Barcelona from its Muslim rulers, making it the greatest city of the Hispanic March's littoral. The county of Barcelona was established and Bera was made its count. In 812, Count dilo 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 Carolingian Empire was waning and the neglected Hispanic March counties were practically independent of its 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 counts refused to pay homage to the new dynasty. Over the next century, most of the counties were absorbed or became vassals of the County of Barcelona. In 1137, the Count of Barcelona Ramon Berenguer IV married the heiress of the Kingdom of Aragon, Petronella, uniting the County of Barcelona and its vassals with the Kingdom of Aragon to create the Crown of Aragon. Several of the later Aragonese kings re-created some of the counties as appanages for younger sons.

Catalan Counties and Viscounties

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Catalan Counties Catalan Viscounties

Appointed rulers

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Ruler Born Reign Death Ruling part
[clarification needed]
Family Notes
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
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
Berengar the Wise 790 816-835 835 Pallars
Ribagorça
Unrochids
832-835 Girona
Besalú
Barcelona
Roussillon
Empúries
Razès
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
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
Otger ? 862-870 ? Empúries
Girona
?
Bernard of Gothia ? 864-878 After 879 Roussillon
Barcelona
Guilhelmids Also Count of Poitiers.

Hereditary Rulers

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Catalan Counties under Bellonid dynasty

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Partitions of the Catalan counties under Bellonid/Barcelona domain

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County of
Roussillon

(878-1172)
(Bellonid line)
County of
Empúries

(905-1402)
(Barcelona line
from 1325)
       County of
Barcelona

(878-1410)
(Barcelona line)
County of
Besalú

(988-1118)
County of
Cerdanya

(1st creation)
(897-1118)
      
County of
Urgell

(992-1413)
(small interlude by the
House of Cabrera
(1231-1327)
County of
Forcalquier

(1129-1209)
       Barcelona joined by
the Kingdom of Aragon

(1137)
County of
Provence

(1127-1267)
             
County of
Cerdanya

(2nd creation)
(1162-1344)
(with Roussillon
since 1172)
Inherited by the
Kingdom of Naples
      
      
      
Annexed to the
Aragonese House
of Trastámara
Annexed to the Aragonese House of Trastámara

Table of rulers

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Ruler Born Reign Death Ruling part Consort Notes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Gausfred II c.1000
Son of Giselbert I and Beliarda
1014 –1074 1074
aged 73–74
County of Roussillon Adelaide
five children
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
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
Regency of Ermesinde of Carcassonne (1035-1039) He was the first to have the intention of creating a Principality of Catalonia,[2] 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,[3] 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
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)
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
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
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 fulfilled
Stephanie of Provence
two children
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
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
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 Vivar
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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[4]
(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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

edit

(Note: According to some authors, the county of Pallars (and by extension Ribagorça) aren't exactly part of the Catalan group of counties[5] )

Partitions of the Catalan counties under Pallars domain

edit
County of Pallars
(872-1011)
       County of
Ribagorça

(920-1017)
County of
Upper Pallars

(Pallars Sobirà)
(1011-1487)
(Inherited by the
Houses of
Comminges
(1229-1330)
and
Mataplana
(1330-1487))
      
County of
Lower Pallars

(Pallars Jussà)
(1011-1192)
To the
Taifa of Zaragoza
(1017-1018)
To Pamplona
(1018-1035)
To Aragon
(1035-1162)
To Barcelona/Aragon
(from 1162)
To Barcelona/Aragon
(from 1192)

Table of rulers

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Ruler Born Reign Death Ruling part Consort Notes
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
Isarn ? 920-948 948 County of Pallars 1. Senegunda
2. Adelaide

two children
(in total)
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
Sunyer I ? 948-1011 1011 County of Pallars Toda, Countess of Ribagorça
(d.1019)
five children
Ermengol ? 995-1011 1030 County of Pallars Unmarried
Bernard I ? 955-970 970 County of Ribagorça Garsende of Fézensac
six children
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 placed Raymond on Mayor's opposite 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
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
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
Artaud II ? 1081-1124 1124 County of Upper Pallars Eslonza Martínez
1085
one child
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
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
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
Raymond Roger I c.1240 1288-1295 1295 County of Upper Pallars
(House of Comminges)
Blanca de Bellera
no children
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
Hugh Roger I 1322 1350-1366 1366 County of Upper Pallars
(House of Mataplana)
Geralda de Cruïlles
1342
four children
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
Roger Bernard 1370 1416-1424 1424 County of Upper Pallars
(House of Mataplana)
Beatrice of Cardona
1390
two children
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
Hugh Roger III 1430 1451-1487 26 November 1508 County of Upper Pallars
(House of Mataplana)
Caterina Albert
1478
two children
Upper Pallars annexed to the Aragonese House of Trastámara

The House of Trastámara and successors

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House of Trastámara (1412-1516) and the Catalan Civil War (1462-1472)

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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 Impotent
(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

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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.[6]
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.[7][8]
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 allegiance 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

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In 1714, Catalonia, which had backed the Habsburg pretender to the Spanish crown Archduke Charles of Austria, was defeated in the War of the Spanish Succession by the Bourbon forces supporting Philip of Anjou's claim to the Spanish crown. Through the Nueva Planta decrees, the new Bourbon king of Spain Philip V abolished the Catalan Constitutions and merged the Crown of Aragon and the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain. The Principality of Catalonia became another province and thus the title of the Count of Barcelona was emptied of real political power.

Since then, the numbering of the Counts of Barcelona, which had followed that of the Crown of Aragon, followed that of the former 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 seized the title of the Count of Barcelona in 1714, after defeating the Habsburg pretender and his Catalan backers.

House of Bonaparte 1808-1813

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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, after much fighting, it was returned to Spain.

House of Bourbon (Reannexation to Spain) 1813-1931; 1975-present day

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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 dynastic 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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Corona d'AragóJaume II d'UrgellPere II d'UrgellCecília IJaume I d'UrgellTeresa d'EntençaErmengol XÀlvar IErmengol IXPonç IPere I»1231AurembiaixErmengol VIIIErmengol VIIErmengol VIErmengol VErmengol IVErmengol IIIErmengol IIErmengol IBorrell IISunifred II d'UrgellGuifré I el PelósLlista de comtes de BarcelonaNunó ISanç IPere I de CerdanyaRamon Berenguer IV el SantRamon Berenguer IIIBernat I de CerdanyaGuillem II de CerdanyaGuillem I de CerdanyaRamon I de CerdanyaGuifré II de CerdanyaOliba CabretaMiró III de CerdanyaMiró III de CerdanyaSunifred II de CerdanyaMiró II de CerdanyaGuifré I el PelósLlista de comtes de BarcelonaBernat III de BesalúBernat II de BesalúGuillem II de BesalúGuillem I de BesalúBernat I de Besalú (Tallaferro)Oliba CabretaMiró II de BesalúSunifred II de CerdanyaGuifré II de BesalúMiró I de BesalúRadulf I de BesalúGuifré I el PelósLlista de comtes de BarcelonaGuifré I el PelósCorona d'AragóJoan II el GranAlfons IV el MagnànimFerran d'AntequeraMartí I l'HumàJoan el CaçadorPere III el CerimoniósAlfons III el BenigneJaume II el JustAlfons II el FrancPere II el GranJaume I el ConqueridorPere I el CatòlicAlfons I el CastRamon Berenguer IV el SantRamon Berenguer IIIBerenguer Ramon IIRamon Berenguer II el Cap d'EstopesRamon Berenguer I el VellBerenguer Ramon I el CorbatRamon BorrellBorrell IISunyer IGuifré IIGuifré I el PelósCorona d'AragóJaume IV de MallorcaJaume III de MallorcaSanç I de MallorcaJaume II de MallorcaAlfons el FrancJaume II de MallorcaJaume I el ConqueridorNunó ISanç de Barcelona i d'AragóAlfons I el CastGirard II de RossellóGausfred III de RossellóGirard I de RossellóGuislabert II de RossellóGausfred II de RossellóGuislabert I de RossellóGausfred I de RossellóGausbert I de RossellóBencióSunyer IIMiró I de RossellóCorona d'AragóMartí I l'HumàJoana de RocabertíPere III d'EmpúriesJoan II d'EmpúriesJoan I d'EmpúriesPere II d'EmpúriesJoan I d'EmpúriesRamon Berenguer I d'EmpúriesPere I d'EmpúriesHug VI d'EmpúriesMarquesa d'EmpúriesPonç VI d'EmpúriesPonç V d'EmpúriesHug V d'EmpúriesPonç IV d'EmpúriesHug IV d'EmpúriesPonç III d'EmpúriesHug III d'EmpúriesPonç II d'EmpúriesHug II d'EmpúriesPonç I d'EmpúriesHug I d'EmpúriesGausfred I d'EmpúriesGausbert I d'EmpúriesBencióSunyer IICounty of UrgellCounty of CerdagneCounty of BesalúCounty of GironaCounty of BarcelonaCounty of RoussillonCounty of EmpúriesCatalan counties
Guifré I el PelósSalomó I d'UrgellSunifred IGalí I AsnarAsnar I GalíBorrell I d'UrgellGuifré I el PelósSalomó I d'UrgellSunifred IGalí I AsnarAsnar I GalíBorrell I d'UrgellGuifré I el PelósGuifré I el PelósBernat de GòtiaOtgerHumfridOdalricGuifré I de GironaSunifred IBernat de SeptimàniaBerenguer de TolosaBernat de SeptimàniaRampóBeràOdilóRostanyGuifré I el PelósBernat de GòtiaHumfridOdalricAleranGuillem de SeptimàniaSunifred IBernat de SeptimàniaBerenguer de TolosaBernat de SeptimàniaRampóBeràMiró I de RossellóBernat de GòtiaHumfridOdalricAleranGuillem de SeptimàniaSunyer IBernat de SeptimàniaBerenguer de TolosaGaucelmSunyer IIHumfridOdalricAleranGuillem de SeptimàniaSunyer IAlaric ISunyer IBerenguer de TolosaGaucelmErmenguerCategoria:Comtats catalans

References

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  1. ^ Lewis, Archibald Ross. The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718–1050. University of Texas Press: Austin, 1965.
  2. ^ Fidel Fita i Colomer: Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia, tomo 40 (1902): Principado de Cataluña - Razón de este nombre: Ya en las cortes del año 1064, que son las primeras de la colección académica, aparece en el Usaje 65 con el nombre de Principado la demarcación del territorio al que entonces se aplicaba, es decir al de la vieja Cataluña ó al de los tres condados de Barcelona, Ausona y Gerona, que regían como soberanos D. Ramon Berenguer I y su mujer Doña Almodis
  3. ^ Albertí, Elisenda (2007). Dames, reines, abadesses, 18 personalitats femenines a la Catalunya medieval. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 2014-11-08. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  4. ^ The origins of Elvira have been subject to recent scholarly reevaluation. She was once identified as daughter of Manrique Pérez de Lara, but Canal Sánchez-Pagín showed that Ermengol's wife was Elvira Pérez, daughter of Pedro Alfonso of Asturias. However, Sánchez de Mora has presented evidence that Aurembiaix was close kin to the Lara family and suggests that a documented countess Elvira Nuñez de Lara, daughter of Nuño Pérez de Lara, was in fact a second wife of Ermengol, to whom he married after the death of Elvira Pérez, and that Aurembiaix was her daughter. Sánchez de Mora, pp. 300-305.
  5. ^ Whether Pallars is referred to as a part of Catalonia or not depends on the author. Lewis, passim, treats it as independent of Catalonia proper.
  6. ^ Testamento de Carlos V, ISBN 84-276-0606-0
  7. ^ Grau, Jaume. Pau Claris. Una vida amb misteris (in Catalan). Sàpiens [Barcelona], núm. 121, octubre 2012, p.54-57. ISSN 1695-2014
  8. ^ Gelderen, Martin van; Skinner, Quentin (2002). Republicanism: Volume 1, Republicanism and Constitutionalism in Early Modern Europe: A Shared European Heritage. Cambridge University Press. p. 284. ISBN 978-1-139-43961-9

Sources

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