Arnau Mir de Tost
Encyclopedia
Arnau Mir de Tost (c. 1000 – after 1072) was a Catalan
nobleman of Urgell, the lord of Llordà and viscount of Àger
, a major figure in the eleventh-century Reconquista
in Catalonia. Arnau is sometimes praised as the "El Cid
of the Lands of Lleida
" for his foundational role in reestablishing Christian rule in the region to the south of Urgell.
Arnau was born at Tost
shortly after the year 1000. His father died when he was still young and he became attached to the court of Count Ermengol II
. In 1031 he married Arsenda (or Ersenda) and purchased from the count the rights to the castle of Llordà on the frontier with the Caliphate of Córdoba
. From his base at Llordà he began a career of conquest in the aftermath of the breakup of the caliphate in numerous petty taifa
s. He conquered the Conca Dellà and brought the frontier of Urgell up to Montsec
. His crowning achievement was the capture of the alcassaba
of Àger (1034), the key fortress in the Muslim line of defence against Urgell, which he successfully took by storm twice.
Ermengold promptly enfeoffed Arnau as lord of Àger and charged him with the repopulation of the devastated territory between the Christian and Muslim frontiers. To this end Arnau issued charters specifying the terms of colonisation; Montsec became the centre of a new Christian principality in the south of Urgell. For his primitive chancery
Arnau employed an efficient scribe named Vidal, who brought the convenientia (convention) into common practice in western Catalonia, especially through the work he did drawing up conventions on behalf of Raymond IV of Pallars Jussà
, the husband of Arnau's daughter Valença. Arnau had extended his influence into Pallars Jussà
through this matrimonial alliance (1055), at which time Raymond had pledged him four castles as insurance against his breaking his marriage vows.
Arnau controlled over thirty castles and numerous other agricultural settlements at the height of his power, justifying his assumption of the titles of viscount
and comtor. He built a fortified monastery, Sant Pere d'Àger, which still stands on a hill overlooking Àger.
In 1043–1044 Arnau became a hostage on behalf of his suzerain Ermengol III
for 4,000 solidi to Raymond Berengar I of Barcelona, as insurance against Ermengol and Raymond Berengar's alliance against Raymond of Cerdanya. Arnau also fought for Raymond Berengar, conquering Camarasa
and Cubells
in his name. As early as 1050 he had extracted from Raymond Berengar a promise not to demand statica (right of lodging) from him. At the same time he was extracting other concessions out of Ermengol III, diminishing the comital rights (potestas, "power") over his castles.
Arnau was a major proponent of the Crusade of Barbastro in 1064. On 17 April 1066 Ermengol III, who had been given the lordship of Barbastro
after the success of the crusade, died defending it from the Muslims and Arnau took over the regency of Urgell for the young Ermengol IV
.
In 1072 Arnau went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
. Upon his return he dictated his testament, which is preserved. It contains the second mention of a set of ninety-six rock crystal chess
pieces called the "Urgell (or Àger) chessmen". Their earliest mention is in the 1068 will of Arnau's wife Arsenda. They are crafted in an abstract Islamic design
, implying that they were originally from south of the frontier. On his deathbed he is said to have expressed regret that he had not enough time to conquer Balaguer
and Lleida. A small monument has been erected to Arnau at Foranada near Monsonís.
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
nobleman of Urgell, the lord of Llordà and viscount of Àger
Àger
Àger is a municipality in the comarca of the Noguera in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north-west of the comarca, and the territory of the municipality stretches between the Noguera Ribagorçana and Noguera Pallaresa rivers. The Terradets reservoir on the Noguera Pallaresa is situated...
, a major figure in the eleventh-century Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
in Catalonia. Arnau is sometimes praised as the "El Cid
El Cid
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar , known as El Cid Campeador , was a Castilian nobleman, military leader, and diplomat...
of the Lands of Lleida
Lleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
" for his foundational role in reestablishing Christian rule in the region to the south of Urgell.
Arnau was born at Tost
Tost
Tost may refer to:* David Tost , German astronomer from Silesia* Tost, German exonym for Toszek, a town in Silesia, Poland* Bagel toast...
shortly after the year 1000. His father died when he was still young and he became attached to the court of Count Ermengol II
Ermengol II of Urgell
Ermengol II , called the Pilgrim, was the Count of Urgell from 1011 to his death. He was the son of Ermengol I. He was a child when he succeeded his father and was put under the regency of his uncle Raymond Borrel of Barcelona until 1018...
. In 1031 he married Arsenda (or Ersenda) and purchased from the count the rights to the castle of Llordà on the frontier with the Caliphate of Córdoba
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
. From his base at Llordà he began a career of conquest in the aftermath of the breakup of the caliphate in numerous petty taifa
Taifa
In the history of the Iberian Peninsula, a taifa was an independent Muslim-ruled principality, usually an emirate or petty kingdom, though there was one oligarchy, of which a number formed in the Al-Andalus after the final collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031.-Rise:The origins of...
s. He conquered the Conca Dellà and brought the frontier of Urgell up to Montsec
Montsec
Montsec may refer to:* Serra del Montsec* Montsec, Meuse, a commune of the Meuse département, in France...
. His crowning achievement was the capture of the alcassaba
Alcazaba
An alcazaba , alcáçova or alcassaba is a Moorish fortification in Spain and Portugal. The word derives from the Arabic word القصبة , a walled-fortification in a city....
of Àger (1034), the key fortress in the Muslim line of defence against Urgell, which he successfully took by storm twice.
Ermengold promptly enfeoffed Arnau as lord of Àger and charged him with the repopulation of the devastated territory between the Christian and Muslim frontiers. To this end Arnau issued charters specifying the terms of colonisation; Montsec became the centre of a new Christian principality in the south of Urgell. For his primitive chancery
Chancery (medieval office)
Chancery is a general term for a medieval writing office, responsible for the production of official documents. The title of chancellor, for the head of the office, came to be held by important ministers in a number of states, and remains the title of the heads of government in modern Germany,...
Arnau employed an efficient scribe named Vidal, who brought the convenientia (convention) into common practice in western Catalonia, especially through the work he did drawing up conventions on behalf of Raymond IV of Pallars Jussà
Raymond IV of Pallars Jussà
Raymond IV was the Count of Pallars Jussà from 1047 until his death in 1098. He was the son and successor of Raymond III and Ermessenda. His reign was characterised by ceaseless wars and litigations with his cousins Artau I and Artau II of Pallars Sobirà, yet it was transformative in the history...
, the husband of Arnau's daughter Valença. Arnau had extended his influence into Pallars Jussà
County of Pallars Jussà
The County of Pallars Jussà or Jusá, meaning Lower Pallars, was a county in the Hispanic March during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, long after the march had ceased to be effectively administered by the Kings of France. It was a division of the County of Pallars, which had been de facto, and...
through this matrimonial alliance (1055), at which time Raymond had pledged him four castles as insurance against his breaking his marriage vows.
Arnau controlled over thirty castles and numerous other agricultural settlements at the height of his power, justifying his assumption of the titles of viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
and comtor. He built a fortified monastery, Sant Pere d'Àger, which still stands on a hill overlooking Àger.
In 1043–1044 Arnau became a hostage on behalf of his suzerain Ermengol III
Ermengol III of Urgell
Ermengol III , called el de Barbastre, was the Count of Urgell from 1038 to his death. He was the son of Ermengol II and Constance, daughter of the Count of Besalú....
for 4,000 solidi to Raymond Berengar I of Barcelona, as insurance against Ermengol and Raymond Berengar's alliance against Raymond of Cerdanya. Arnau also fought for Raymond Berengar, conquering Camarasa
Camarasa
Camarasa is a municipality in the comarca of the Noguera in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated at the confluence of the Segre and Noguera Pallaresa rivers....
and Cubells
Cubells
Cubells is a village in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
in his name. As early as 1050 he had extracted from Raymond Berengar a promise not to demand statica (right of lodging) from him. At the same time he was extracting other concessions out of Ermengol III, diminishing the comital rights (potestas, "power") over his castles.
Arnau was a major proponent of the Crusade of Barbastro in 1064. On 17 April 1066 Ermengol III, who had been given the lordship of Barbastro
Barbastro
Barbastro is a city in the Somontano county, province of Huesca, Spain...
after the success of the crusade, died defending it from the Muslims and Arnau took over the regency of Urgell for the young Ermengol IV
Ermengol IV of Urgell
Ermengol IV , called el de Gerb or Gerp, was the Count of Urgell from 1066 to his death. He was the son of Ermengol III and Clemencia, daughter of Bernard II of Bigorre....
.
In 1072 Arnau went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
. Upon his return he dictated his testament, which is preserved. It contains the second mention of a set of ninety-six rock crystal chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
pieces called the "Urgell (or Àger) chessmen". Their earliest mention is in the 1068 will of Arnau's wife Arsenda. They are crafted in an abstract Islamic design
Islamic art
Islamic art encompasses the visual arts produced from the 7th century onwards by people who lived within the territory that was inhabited by or ruled by culturally Islamic populations...
, implying that they were originally from south of the frontier. On his deathbed he is said to have expressed regret that he had not enough time to conquer Balaguer
Balaguer
Balaguer is the capital of the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.It is located by the river Segre, a tributary to the Ebre....
and Lleida. A small monument has been erected to Arnau at Foranada near Monsonís.
External links
- Jean-Louis Cazaux: The Ager Chessmen: Les pièces d'Ager." (Contains images of the Urgell chessmen.)