Arnau Mir of Pallars Jussà
Encyclopedia
Arnau Mir (died 1174) was the Count of Pallars Jussà from 1124/6 until his death.
The Memoria renovata, which dates to the reign of Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona over the Kingdom of Aragon
, contains a genealogy of Arnau Mir. The author of the Memoria was dedicated to justifying the independence of the County of Ribagorza
from both Aragon and Navarre
and probably saw Arnau Mir as the strongest candidate with connexions to the old line of the counts of Ribagorza who could resist the regional hegemonic powers.
In 1140, when William, Archbishop of Arles, acting as Papal legate
, arbitrated the disputed boundary between the dioceses of Roda and Urgell
, he did so "with the advice" (cum consilio) of Arnau Mir, who also signed the written agreement (convenientia) as a witness. Among the other magnates consulted for advice on this occasion were the Count of Pallars Sobirà, Artau III, and Arnau's vassal Ramon Pere II d'Erill. Arnau held the city of Fraga
as a vassal of Alfonso II of Aragon
and Ramon Pere held it from Arnau.
There is a surviving document recording the many disputes between Arnau Mir and Ramon Pere, but the record of their settlement (iuditium) is incomplete. There is also a record of the hostages Ramon posted as sureties. Among the crimes of which Arnau accused Ramon were:
Berenguer de Benevent had placed himself and his fief under the protection/authority/command of Arnau, so that he might act as a surety for Arnau and for Ramon d'Erill if Arnau required it. Arnau issued a special charter of protection for Berenguer, which Ramon broke. On Ramon's advice Arnau had established a fair at Casteglo (? Castelló d'Encús), but Ramon proceeded to establish a competing fair in his own territory and forbade his own men from attending Arnau's fair. When Arnau was going to confiscate Ramon's fief of Val d'Aran
, the latter sent Ramon de Valsegne as a pledge to the count for the 1,000 solidi he owed. The latter Ramon was invested with Aran, but Ramon d'Erill took it from him and the "damage" to Arnau was 990 solidi.
After Arnau was captured in war with Sancho VI of Navarre
, he placed his "patrimony and vassals" under Ramon, who pledged to observe with them the same Truce of God he observed with his own vassals, Arnau pledged to respect Ramon's vassals the same way. During the period of Arnau's captivity, however, Ramon's vassals plundered Arnau and his vassals of 900 solidi in damages. At Lérida and Agramunt
Ramon accepted a pledge from Ermengol VI of Urgell
which he did not repay. Arnau was thus forced to agree with Ramon and Ermengol not to force the former to pay it and not to go himself or to allow his vassals to go to either Lérida or Agramunt.
Arnau had disputes with his other vassals. It is recorded that one Berivizio wounded Pere de Castellnou, Arnau's liege vassal and nephew, and also murdered a man named Ros from Montanyana. Another vassal of the count, Ramón de San Saturnino, stole twenty mules and asses from Sanç de Lirio.
The Memoria renovata, which dates to the reign of Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona over the Kingdom of Aragon
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
, contains a genealogy of Arnau Mir. The author of the Memoria was dedicated to justifying the independence of the County of Ribagorza
County of Ribagorza
The County of Ribagorza or Ribagorça was originally the independent creation of a local Basque dynasty, later absorbed into the Kingdom of Navarre, and then into the Crown of Aragon. Historically it had a strong connexion with the counties of Sobrarbe and Pallars. Its territory was the valleys of...
from both Aragon and Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
and probably saw Arnau Mir as the strongest candidate with connexions to the old line of the counts of Ribagorza who could resist the regional hegemonic powers.
In 1140, when William, Archbishop of Arles, acting as Papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
, arbitrated the disputed boundary between the dioceses of Roda and Urgell
Diocese of Urgell
The Diocese of Urgell is a Roman Catholic diocese in Catalonia, Spain, with origins in the fifth century AD or possibly earlier. It is based in the region of the historical Catalan county of Urgell, though it has different borders...
, he did so "with the advice" (cum consilio) of Arnau Mir, who also signed the written agreement (convenientia) as a witness. Among the other magnates consulted for advice on this occasion were the Count of Pallars Sobirà, Artau III, and Arnau's vassal Ramon Pere II d'Erill. Arnau held the city of Fraga
Fraga
Fraga is the major town of the comarca of Bajo Cinca in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. It is located by the river Cinca.King Alfonso I of Aragon died at its walls in 1134 while trying to conquer it...
as a vassal of Alfonso II of Aragon
Alfonso II of Aragon
Alfonso II or Alfons I ; Huesca, 1-25 March 1157 – 25 April 1196), called the Chaste or the Troubadour, was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1164 until his death. He was the son of Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona and Petronilla of Aragon and the first King of Aragon who was...
and Ramon Pere held it from Arnau.
There is a surviving document recording the many disputes between Arnau Mir and Ramon Pere, but the record of their settlement (iuditium) is incomplete. There is also a record of the hostages Ramon posted as sureties. Among the crimes of which Arnau accused Ramon were:
- stealing 990 sheep "within the boundaries of Fraga ... from the men of the Count of Pallars and the King"
- capturing Arnau's vassal and "shield bearer", Berenguer de Benevent, and plundering his lands of assets valued at 995 gold florins
- forcing Pere de Bardet, a vassal of Arnau, to become his own vassal "under constraint"
- refusing to render "fief serviceFeudal aidFeudal aid, or just plain aid is the legal term for one of the financial duties required of a tenant or vassal to his lord. Variations on the feudal aid were collected in England, France, Germany and Italy during the Middle Ages, although the exact circumstances varied.-Origin:The term originated...
" to Arnau and his son, Raymond V, even though he was a liege vassal - defaulting on his debts to Arnau's other vassals
- illegally confiscating fiefs worth 990 solidi in VallebonaVallebonaVallebona is a comune in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, located about 120 km southwest of Genoa and about 30 km west of Imperia...
and Bonausa - allowing his vassals to plunder the inhabitants of Val Benasc of 994 solidi
Berenguer de Benevent had placed himself and his fief under the protection/authority/command of Arnau, so that he might act as a surety for Arnau and for Ramon d'Erill if Arnau required it. Arnau issued a special charter of protection for Berenguer, which Ramon broke. On Ramon's advice Arnau had established a fair at Casteglo (? Castelló d'Encús), but Ramon proceeded to establish a competing fair in his own territory and forbade his own men from attending Arnau's fair. When Arnau was going to confiscate Ramon's fief of Val d'Aran
Val d'Aran
The Val d'Aran is a valley in the Pyrenees mountains and a comarca in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain. Most of the valley constitutes the only part of Spain, and of Catalonia, on the north face of the Pyrenees, hence the only part of Catalonia whose...
, the latter sent Ramon de Valsegne as a pledge to the count for the 1,000 solidi he owed. The latter Ramon was invested with Aran, but Ramon d'Erill took it from him and the "damage" to Arnau was 990 solidi.
After Arnau was captured in war with Sancho VI of Navarre
Sancho VI of Navarre
Sancho VI Garcés , called the Wise , was the king of Navarre from 1150 until his death in 1194....
, he placed his "patrimony and vassals" under Ramon, who pledged to observe with them the same Truce of God he observed with his own vassals, Arnau pledged to respect Ramon's vassals the same way. During the period of Arnau's captivity, however, Ramon's vassals plundered Arnau and his vassals of 900 solidi in damages. At Lérida and Agramunt
Agramunt
Agramunt is a municipality in the comarca of the Urgell in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north of the comarca, near the border with the Noguera....
Ramon accepted a pledge from Ermengol VI of Urgell
Ermengol VI of Urgell
Ermengol VI , called el de Castilla, was the Count of Urgell from 1102 to his death. He was the son and successor of Ermengol V and María Ansúrez.He was born in Valladolid, whence his nickname comes...
which he did not repay. Arnau was thus forced to agree with Ramon and Ermengol not to force the former to pay it and not to go himself or to allow his vassals to go to either Lérida or Agramunt.
Arnau had disputes with his other vassals. It is recorded that one Berivizio wounded Pere de Castellnou, Arnau's liege vassal and nephew, and also murdered a man named Ros from Montanyana. Another vassal of the count, Ramón de San Saturnino, stole twenty mules and asses from Sanç de Lirio.