County of Cerdanya

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The County of Cerdanya (

Marca Hispanica. The original Cerdanya consisted of the valley of the upper Segre. Today Cerdanya
is a Catalan comarca.

County of Cerdanya
798–1403
of County of Cerdanya
Coat of arms
Common languages
Ethnic groups
Religion
Count of Cerdanya
 
• 798-820
Borrell I (first)
• 1375-1403
Isabella (last)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
798
• Merged with the Crown of Aragon
1403
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Francia
Crown of Aragon
Today part ofCatalonia

Origins

The region had been conquered by the

Basque, and Odo had a pro-Basque policy in the face of Charles Martel and the Franks.[1]

Moorish rule was soon purely nominal; the Cerdanya was conquered by

Count Sunifred.[4]

In the 9th century, Cerdanya was the centre of a region wherein the

aprisio form of landholding was common.[5] In 835, a charter of Louis the Pious even forbid the church of the region to grant lands in beneficium, that is, as benefices or in feudal tenure.[6]

After the death of Louis the Stammerer (879), Aquitaine and West Francia in general experienced a period of instability during which the outlying regions, such as Catalonia, became de facto independent of central royal authority. During this period as well, the office of count became de facto hereditary.

Division and reunion

The 10th century saw repeated divisions and reunions of the familial lands of the Bellonids and Cerdanya was repeatedly attached to and detached from its neighbouring regions and counties. The counts of Cerdanya frequently used the title marchio, meaning margrave, during this period.[7] This was an indication of their status as frontier lords and of the breakdown in royal authority, which permitted regional magnates to assume whatever titles they wished without incurring royal disfavour. As another result of its frontier location and the lack of royal control exercised over it, Cerdanya was dotted with numerous castles during this period, when the Muslim threat was still strong.[8]

In 897,

Berga went to Miro. The Fenouillèdes and Capcir were also annexed to Cerdanya at this time. From 913 to 920, Miro also held Besalú, but on his death in 927, his territories were divided between his four sons. The eldest, Sunifred, received Cerdanya and a certain primacy over his brothers. In the last half of the 10th century, the counties of Miro were reunited (984) under one ruler: Oliba Cabreta
.

His county comprised Besalú, the Fenouillèdes, Capcir, the

Wilfred
, receiving Cerdanya and Conflent. In 1002, Berga was annexed to Cerdanya.

It is clear, however, from evidence dating from between 987 and 1031, that the

Visigothic law were still in effect in Cerdanya.[12] The count presided over judicial tribunals with the assistance of the judices (judges) and boni homines (good men) of the county.[13]

Feudalisation and decline

For a record of Cerdanya's feudal status under the Crown of Aragon (c.1205), see Liber feudorum Ceritaniae.

During the 11th century, Cerdanya became increasingly feudalised and drawn into the orb of Toulouse and

Bishop of Elne
, it gave the nobles opportunity to grant their services to whoever offered them the most advantage at the moment.

In this period of political confusion, the viscount Bernard Sunifred rebelled. His lands were clustered in the north of Cerdanya, in the Segre valley and Conflent with their centre at Merencs. He put his lands under the nominal suzerainty of the count of Toulouse and tried to draw them away from Cerdanya. Bernard was forced to make peace with Raymond in 1047 and his allodial lands were handed over, though he was compensated with more fiefdoms from the count. Bernard rebelled a second time and was forced to make peace again in 1061. The important pass of Pimorent, which, now that Cerdanya was no longer a marcher territory, lay at the centre of its existence, remained in the hands of the Count Raymond and neither of Bernard's allies of Toulouse or Foix.

The viscounts of Cerdanya and the others regions, like Conflent and Fenouillèdes, were the main antagonists of the comital power in Cerdanya throughout the 11th century. Briefly,

William Jordan, joined the First Crusade, and in his absence, the counts' authority was weakened still further. In 1118, Cerdanya was sold to Barcelona and only occasionally bestowed thereafter as appanage
for younger sons.

The failure of the county of Cerdanya to establish lasting supremacy over Catalonia lies in the penchant of its counts to divide their patrimony between all of their sons — and the rights of inheritance of brothers — and the gathering strength of the nobility following the decline of Cerdanya's military importance. In 1058, when Count Raymond accepted the pay of

Raymond Berengar I of Barcelona to be his ally in the fight against the Moors, the fate of Cerdanya to be in the control of Barcelona was sealed.[15] In the next centuries, Cerdanya was part of the Principality of Catalonia
.

List of counts

The title then passed finally and permanently to the Crown of Aragon.

Sources

Notes

  1. ^ a b Lewis, 22 and n6.
  2. ^ Lewis, 40.
  3. ^ Lewis, 44, refers to Urgell-Cerdanya-Besalú — sometimes Urgell-Cerdanya-Confluent — as a "complex".
  4. ^ Lewis, 99.
  5. ^ Lewis, 73.
  6. ^ Lewis, 78.
  7. ^ Lewis, 199.
  8. ^ Lewis, 229–230.
  9. ^ Lewis, 209.
  10. ^ Lewis, 348.
  11. ^ Lewis, 349.
  12. ^ Lewis, 373.
  13. ^ Lewis, 374.
  14. ^ Lewis, 322.
  15. ^ Lewis, 349.
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