Mary, Viscount of Béarn

Mary, Peter II of Béarn (father) Matelle de Baux (mother)

Mary (died after 1187) was a

Life

Mary was the only known daughter of

Her only known act during her brief reign was the act of homage rendered at Jaca to Alfonso II of Aragon on 30 April 1170.^[3] Mary and a delegation of Bearnese nobles accepted an oath containing several newly inserted clauses of Alfonso's making which asserted the Crown of Aragon's absolute rights and total control over and above the three viscounties of Béarn, Gabardan, and Brulhois. Alfonso thus usurped the rights of the Duke of Aquitaine, which had long before gone dormant. He also reserved the right to choose Mary's future husband and thus bestow Béarn on whomever he pleased.

Reign

In March 1171, the Catalan

, who lasted two years in power before suffering the same sad fate at the hands of the nobles. Throughout this whole period, William planned to conquer Béarn, but never got around to actually launching any military expedition.

In 1173, the year Sentonge was executed, Mary abandoned her husband, taking their young twin sons with her, and entered the monastery of

, inherited Béarn from his brother many years later.

The date of Mary's death is unknown, but it probably occurred after 1187.

References

Sources

• Herlihy, David (1976). "Land, Family, and Women in Continental Europe, 701-1200". In Stuard, Susan Mosher (ed.). Women in Medieval Society. The University of Pennsylvania Press.
• Smith, Damian J. (2010). Crusade, Heresy and Inquisition in the Lands of the Crown of Aragon, (c. 1167-c.1276). Brill.

Preceded by Gaston V

Viscountess of Béarn 1170 – 1171

Succeeded by Gaston VI