Count of Barcelona

Count of Barcelona

The Count of Barcelona (Catalan: Comte de Barcelona, Spanish: Conde de Barcelona) was the ruler of Catalonia for much of Catalan history, from the 9th until the 17th century.

The County of Barcelona was created by Charlemagne after he had conquered lands north of the river Ebro. These lands, called the Marca Hispanica, were partitioned into various counties, of which the Count of Barcelona, usually holding other counties simultaneously, eventually obtained the primacy over the region.

As the county became hereditary in one family, the bond of the counts to their Frankish overlords loosened, especially after the Capetian dynasty supplanted the Carolingians.

In the 12th century the Counts formed a dynastic union with the Kingdom of Aragon, merging the two realms under a single ruler. In 1258, the king of France relinquished his feudal authority over the County in the Treaty of Corbeil.

Barcelona remained part of the Crown of Aragon when the latter around 1500 entered into a union with the Kingdom of Castile, thereby forming the Spanish Kingdom. The maintained its own laws, taxes and privileges until they were removed after the War of the Spanish Succession in the 18th century.

Count of Barcelona remained one of the many hereditary titles of the Spanish monarchy.

In the 20th century, the title regained some prominence when Juan de Borbón, the exiled heir to the Spanish throne, adopted the title of Count of Barcelona. In doing so, he claimed a historical royal title without claiming to be the current king of Spain, especially after his son Juan Carlos became the prospective successor of the then-ruler of Spain, Francisco Franco. In 1977, after Juan Carlos had become King upon Franco's death in 1975, he officially awarded the title of Count of Barcelona to his father, who had renounced his rights to the throne. Juan held that title until his death in 1993, when it reverted back to the King who has held it ever since. Juan de Borbón's widow used the title Countess of Barcelona until her death in 2000.

Contents

List of Counts of Barcelona

Non-dynastic, 801-878

Name Portrait Reign Notes
Berà 801-820 son of William of Toulouse, also Count of Girona, Besalú, Ausona (812/817-820), Razès and Conflent (790-820), deposed.
Rampó 820-826 also Count of Girona, and Besalú
Bernard I
(Bernat I)
826-832 son of William of Toulouse, also margrave of Septimania (834-835) and Imperial Chamberlain (829-830), deposed.
Berenguer 832-835 also count of Toulouse.
Bernard I
(Bernat)
836-844 restored, executed on orders of Charles the Bald.
Sunifred 844-848 son or son-in-law of Belló of Carcassone, also Count of Ausona, Besalú, Girona, Narbonne, Agde, Béziers, Lodève, Melgueil, Cerdanya, Urgell, Conflent and Nîmes.
William
(Guillem)
848-850 son of Bernard I, also Count of Toulouse (844-850), rebelled and was killed.
Aleran 850-852 jointly with Isembart, also Count of Ampurias and Roussillon and Margrave of Septimania.
Isembart 850-852 son of Guerin of Provence, jointly with Aleran, also Count of Ampurias, and Roussillon and Margrave of Septimania.
Odalric 852-858 son of Hunfrid, Margrave of Istria, also Count of Girona, Rosselló, Empúries and Margrave of Septimania.
Humfrid 858-864 son of Hunfrid II, Duke of Rhaetia, also Count of Girona, Empúries, Roussillon and Narbonne, Margrave of Gothia.
Bernard II (Bernat II) 865-878 son of Bernard of Poitiers also Count of Girona and Margrave of Gothia and Septimania, rebelled.
Counties in the Spanish March.

House of Sunifred, 878-1162

Name Portrait Reign Notes
Wilfred I
(Guifré I)
el Pelós (the Hairy)
Guifred1Barcelonsky.jpg 878-897 son of Sunifred I, managed to establish hereditary succession
Wilfred II Borrel I
(Guifré II Borrell)
Rotlle-genealogic-guifre-II-de-barcelona.jpg 897-911 son of Wilfred the Hairy
Sunyer Rotlle-genealogic-sunifred-I-de-barcelona.jpg 911-947 son of Wilfred the Hairy, retired to a monastery
Borrell II Rotlle-genealogic-borrell-II-de-barcelona.jpg 947-992 son of Sunifred II
jointly with Miro I (947-966) and Ramon Borrell (988-992),
also Count of Urgel (948-992). Unsuccessfully asked King Lothair of France for aid against the Saracens, refused to recognise Hugh Capet as King of France in 987.
Miro Rotlle-genealogic-mir-I-de-barcelona.jpg 947-966 son of Sunifred II, jointly with Borrell II
Ramon Borrell Rotlle-genealogic-ramon-borrell-I-de-barcelona.jpg 988-1018 son of Borrell II, jointly with his father (988-992)
Berenguer Ramon I
el Corbat (the Crooked)
Berenguer Ramon I. BarcelonskýPergamen Poblet.jpg 1018-1035 son of Ramon Borrell, under the regency of Ermesinde of Carcassonne (1018-1023), forced to recognise the suzerainty of Sancho the Great of Navarre.
Ramon Berenguer I
el Vell (the Old)
Ramon Berenguer I.jpg 1035-1076 son of Berenguer Ramon I
Ramon Berenguer II
el Cap d'Estopes (the Towhead)
Rotlle-genealogic-ramon-berenguer-II-de-barcelona.jpg 1076-1082 son of Ramon Berenguer I, jointly with his twin brother Berenguer Ramon II
Berenguer Ramon II
el Fratricida (the Fratricide)
1076-1097 son of Ramon Berenguer I, jointly with his twin brother Ramon Berenguer II (1076-1082) and his nephew Ramon Berenguer III (1082-1097)
Ramon Berenguer III
el Gran (the Great)
Rotlle-genealogic-ramon-berenguer-III-de-barcelona.jpg 1082-1131 son of Ramon Berenguer II
Ramon Berenguer IV
el Sant (the Saint)
Ramon Berenguer conte Peronella reyna.jpg 1131-1162 son of Ramon Berenguer III, engaged Petronilla of Aragon in 1137 and married her in 1150.
Tomb of Count Ramon Berenger I (d. 1076).

House of Aragon-Barcelona, 1162-1410

Ramon Berenguer IV married Petronilla of Aragon, which established the dynastic union with Aragon. On his death, their son Alfonso II succeeded to both thrones, uniting Barcelona and Aragon within the Crown of Aragon.

Name Portrait Reign Notes
Alfonso II of Aragon / I of Barcelona
el Cast (the Chaste)
el Trobador (the Troubadour)
Aragon 1162-1196 son of Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronilla of Aragon
Peter II of Aragon / I of Barcelona
(Pere I)
el Catòlic (the Catholic)
Pietro II d'Aragón.jpg 1196–1213 son of Alfonso II
James I
(Jaume I)
el Conqueridor (the Conqueror)
Jaume I Palma.jpg 1213-1276 son of Peter the Catholic, signed Treaty of Corbeil in 1258, in which King Louis IX of France relinquished his feudal authority over Barcelona.
Peter III of Aragon / II of Barcelona
(Pere II)
el Gran (the Great)
PedroIII.jpg 1276-1285 son of James I
Alfonso III of Aragon / II of Barcelona
el Franc (the Frank)
Alifonso III d'Aragón.jpg 1285-1291 son of Peter the Great
James II
(Jaume II)
el Just (the Just)
Chaime II d'Aragón.jpg 1291–1327 son of Peter the Great
Alfonso IV of Aragon / III of Barcelona
el Benigne (the Good)
Alifonso IV d'Aragón.jpg 1327-1336 son of James II
Peter IV of Aragon / III of Barcelona
(Pere III)
el Cerimoniós (the Ceremonious)
el del Punyalet (of the Dagger)
Pietro IV d'Aragón.jpg 1336–1387
son of Alfonso the Good
John I
(Joan I)
el Caçador (the Hunter)
el Descurat (the Careless)
l'Amador de la Gentilesa (the Lover of Elegance)
Chuan I d'Aragón.jpg 1387-1396 son of Peter the Ceremonious
Martin I
(Martí I)
l'Humà (the Humanist)
l'Eclesiàstic (the Ecclesiastical)
Marti l'humà.jpg 1396–1410 son of Peter the Ceremonious, died without issue.

House of Trastámara, 1412-1516

When Martin, the last legitimate male-line descendant of Wilfred the Hairy to rule, died without legitimate heirs, the magnates of the different realms of the Crown negotiated for two years until the Compromise of Casp gave the throne to Ferdinand of Antequera, a scion of the Castilian House of Trastámara, and sister's son of Martin.

Name Portrait Reign Notes
Ferdinand I
(Ferran I)
el d'Antequera (of Antequera)
Ferrando I d'Aragón.jpg 1412-1416 son of John I of Castile and Eleanor of Aragon
Alfonso V of Aragon / IV of Barcelona
el Magnànim (the Magnanimous)
Alfonso-V-el-Magnanimo.jpg 1416-1458 son of Ferdinand I
John II
(Joan II)
Chuan II d'Aragón.jpg 1458-1479 son of Ferdinand I
John's title to Aragon and Barcelona (but not to Valencia) was opposed by
Henry IV of Castile Enrique IV.jpg 1462-1463 son of John II of Castile and Maria of Aragon
Peter V of Coimbra 1463-1466 son of Pedro, Duke of Coimbra(House of Aviz) and Isabel of Aragon.
René d'Anjou
(Renaut)
04.Le roi Rene.jpg 1466-1472 son of Louis II of Naples and Yolande of Aragon, titular King of Naples, House of Valois-Anjou
Ferdinand II
(Ferran II)
el Catòlic (the Catholic)
Michel Sittow 004.jpg 1479-1516 son of John II, married Isabella I of Castile in 1469
Joanna
(Juana)
la Loca (the Mad)
Johanna I van Castilië.JPG 1516-1555 daughter of Ferdinand II, married Philip I of Castile in 1496

House of Habsburg, 1516-1700

Ferdinand II married Isabella I of Castile and thus united Spain. He was succeed by his grandson Charles, with whom the Habsburg Dynasty acceded to the Spanish kingdoms:

Name Portrait Reign Notes
Charles I
(Carles I)
Emperor charles v.png 1516-1556 grandson of Ferdinand II
Philip I
(Felip I)
King PhilipII of Spain.jpg 1556-1598 son of Charles I
Philip II
(Felip II)
PhilipIIISpain.jpg 1598-1621 son of Philip I
Philip III
(Felip III)
Philip IV of Spain.jpg 1621-1665 son of Philip II
During the Reapers' War, the County of Barcelona was claimed by French Kings from the House of Bourbon:
Louis XIII of France Louis XIIIval grace.jpg 1641-1643
Louis XIV of France Louis XIV of France.jpg 1643-1652
Charles II
(Carles II)
Juan de Miranda Carreno 002.jpg 1665-1700 son of Philip III, died without issue.

War of the Spanish Succession, 1700-1714

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Spain (and with it, the County of Barcelona) was claimed by:

Name Portrait Reign Notes
Philip IV
(Felip IV)
Felipe V; Rey de España.jpg 1700-1714 son of Louis, Dauphin of France; recognised in Barcelona 1700-1705.
Charles III
(Carles III)
Carles-III-de-Catalunya.jpg 1705–1714 son of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor; recognised in Barcelona 1705-1714.

In the Nueva Planta decrees between 1707 and 1716, Philip declared that all Spanish kingdoms and territories should merge into a single, centralized Kingdom of Spain. In Barcelona this was promulgated in 1716. The County of Barcelona became one of the many hereditary titles of the Spanish monarchy.

Courtesy title

House of Bourbon, 1977-1993

Name Portrait Reign Notes
John III
(Juan III)
Juan de Borbón y Battenberg - 002.jpg 1977-1993 claimed title from 1941; officially granted by his son Juan Carlos I in exchange for renouncing his claim to the Spanish throne

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona — Infante Juan Count of Barcelona Spouse Princess María Mercedes of Bourbon Two Sicilies Issue Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz …   Wikipedia

  • Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona — Infobox Monarch name = Ramon Berenguer IV title = Count of Barcelona reign = 19 August 1131 6 August 1162 coronation = predecessor = Ramon Berenguer III successor = Alfonso I suc type = consort = Petronila of Aragon issue = From wife, Petronila… …   Wikipedia

  • Bera, Count of Barcelona — Bera ( ca. Berà) (d.844) was the first count of Barcelona from 801 until his deposition in 820. He was also the Count of Girona, Besalú, and Ausona from 812 or 817 and Count of Razès and Conflent from 790 until his deposition. As the area was… …   Wikipedia

  • Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona — Ramon Berenguer I el Vell ( the Old ) was Count of Barcelona in 1035 1076. He promulgated the earliest versions of a written code of Catalan law, the Usages of Barcelona.Born in 1024, he succeeded his father, Berenguer Ramon the Crooked in 1035.… …   Wikipedia

  • Bernat of Gothia, Count of Barcelona — Bernard II (in Catalan, Bernat de Gothia and in Spanish, Bernardo de Gothia ) was the Count of Barcelona, Girona and Margrave of Gothia and Septimania from 865 to 878.OriginsBernard was the son of Bernard I, count of Poitou (814 844), and… …   Wikipedia

  • Berenguer Ramon I, Count of Barcelona — Berengar Raymond I the Crooked, also called the Hunchback (in Catalan, Berenguer Ramon I el Corbat ; and in Spanish, Berenguer Ramón I el Corvado or el Curvo ) (1005 26 May 1035) was the count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 1018 to his… …   Wikipedia

  • Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona — Ramon Berenguer III the Great was the count of Barcelona, Girona, and Osona from 1082 (jointly with Berenguer Ramon II and solely from 1097), Besalú from 1111, Cerdanya from 1117, and Provence, in the Holy Roman Empire, from 1112, all until his… …   Wikipedia

  • Sunifred II, Count of Barcelona — Sunifred II (c.870 950) or, in Catalan language, Sunyer II was count of Barcelona, Girona, Urgell and Ausona from 911 to 948.OriginsHe was the son of Wilfred the Hairy and younger brother the previous Count of Barcelona, Wilfred II Borrel. He… …   Wikipedia

  • Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona — Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes cite news | url = http://descargas.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/03694152322581617429079/208210 0002.pdf | title = Barcelona, Condes de Barcelona | work = Semanario Pintoresco Español |… …   Wikipedia

  • Sunifred I, Count of Barcelona — Sunifred I, was the count of many Catalan and Septimanian counties; including Ausona, Besalú, Girona, Narbonne, Agde, Béziers, Lodève, Melgueil, Cerdanya, Urgell, Conflent, and Nîmes; and count of Barcelona from 844 to 848.He was the son of Belló …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”