Berenguer Ramon II, Count of Barcelona
Encyclopedia
Berenguer Ramon II the Fratricide (1050s - 1090s) was Count of Barcelona
from 1076 to 1097. He was the son of Ramon Berenguer I
, and initially ruled jointly with his twin brother Ramon Berenguer II
.
Born in 1053 or 1054 he succeeded his father Ramon Berenguer I the Old to co-rule with his twin brother Ramon Berenguer, in 1075. The twins failed to agree and divided their possessions between them, against the will of their late father. Ramon Berenguer II was killed while hunting in the woods on December 5, 1082. Berenguer Ramon II, who became the sole ruler of Catalonia
for the next four years, was credited by popular opinion with having orchestrated this murder. This suspicion and other divisions of loyalty led to a civil war. Various parties asserted ways to resolve this 'unjust and iniquitous murder', which led to a moderate compromise in 1086 in which Berenguer Ramon II would rule Catalonia with his brother's four-year-old son (Later to become known as Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona
for eleven years until he came of age.
In the 1080s Berenguer Ramon's involvement in the internal strife in the Moorish taifa
kingdoms brought him in conflict with El Cid
. In the ensuing war the Count of Barcelona was twice taken prisoner.
After his resignation in 1097 his life is more obscure. Still living under the accusations of his brother's assassination, the guilt of which may have been determined by trial by combat
, which he lost, he went to Jerusalem, either on pilgrimage
, as a penance, or as part of the First Crusade
, and perished there between 1097 and 1099. Berenguer Ramon II was succeeded by his nephew Ramon Berenguer III
, son of Ramon Berenguer II
.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
from 1076 to 1097. He was the son of Ramon Berenguer I
Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer I 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....
, and initially ruled jointly with his twin brother Ramon Berenguer II
Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death...
.
Born in 1053 or 1054 he succeeded his father Ramon Berenguer I the Old to co-rule with his twin brother Ramon Berenguer, in 1075. The twins failed to agree and divided their possessions between them, against the will of their late father. Ramon Berenguer II was killed while hunting in the woods on December 5, 1082. Berenguer Ramon II, who became the sole ruler of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
for the next four years, was credited by popular opinion with having orchestrated this murder. This suspicion and other divisions of loyalty led to a civil war. Various parties asserted ways to resolve this 'unjust and iniquitous murder', which led to a moderate compromise in 1086 in which Berenguer Ramon II would rule Catalonia with his brother's four-year-old son (Later to become known as Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer III the Great was the count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 1082 , Besalú from 1111, Cerdanya from 1117, and Provence, in the Holy Roman Empire, from 1112, all until his death in Barcelona in 1131...
for eleven years until he came of age.
In the 1080s Berenguer Ramon's involvement in the internal strife in the Moorish 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...
kingdoms brought him in conflict with El Cid
El Cid
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar , known as El Cid Campeador , was a Castilian nobleman, military leader, and diplomat...
. In the ensuing war the Count of Barcelona was twice taken prisoner.
After his resignation in 1097 his life is more obscure. Still living under the accusations of his brother's assassination, the guilt of which may have been determined by trial by combat
Trial by combat
Trial by combat was a method of Germanic law to settle accusations in the absence of witnesses or a confession, in which two parties in dispute fought in single combat; the winner of the fight was proclaimed to be right. In essence, it is a judicially sanctioned duel...
, which he lost, he went to Jerusalem, either on pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
, as a penance, or as part of the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, and perished there between 1097 and 1099. Berenguer Ramon II was succeeded by his nephew Ramon Berenguer III
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer III the Great was the count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 1082 , Besalú from 1111, Cerdanya from 1117, and Provence, in the Holy Roman Empire, from 1112, all until his death in Barcelona in 1131...
, son of Ramon Berenguer II
Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death...
.