Ermengol X of Urgell
Encyclopedia
Ermengol X was the Count of Urgel and Viscount of Àger from 1268, though his succession was disputed. He was the son of Álvaro of Urgell
and his second wife, Cecilia, daughter of Roger-Bernard II of Foix
.
As he inherited Urgel at the age of fourteen, he was originally under the regency of Roger-Bernard III of Foix
. However, the relatives, of the house of Montcada of Béarn
, of his father's first wife, Constance, opposed his succession. At the instigation of the house of Foix, Ermengol participated in the coalition of rebels against Peter III of Aragon
in 1276, but in the succeeding two years he recovered all the territory of his county which had unto then been in the hands of his rivals: the Montcada, the king of Aragon, or the viscount of Cardona
. In 1278, he met the king at Agramunt
and received Urgel as a fief.
Ermengol attached himself thereafter to Peter's entourage, travelling with the king to Sicily
in 1282 and Bordeaux
in 1283. When Peter died in 1295, Ermengol became a close companion and adviser of his sons Alfonso III
, whom he aided in conquering the Kingdom of Majorca
in 1287, and James II
.
Before dying at La Llitera without descendants, he named the second son of James II, Alfonso
, as his heir on the condition that he should marry his niece, Teresa de Entença, his legal heir. With his death, the House of Cabrera
came to an end.
Álvaro of Urgell
Álvaro , called Álvar el Castellà in Catalan, was the Count of Urgell and Viscount of Àger from 1243...
and his second wife, Cecilia, daughter of Roger-Bernard II of Foix
Roger-Bernard II of Foix
Roger Bernard II , called the Great, was the sixth count of Foix from 1223 until his death. He was the son and successor of the illustrious count Raymond-Roger and his wife Philippa of Montcada....
.
As he inherited Urgel at the age of fourteen, he was originally under the regency of Roger-Bernard III of Foix
Roger-Bernard III of Foix
Roger-Bernard III was the Count of Foix from 1265 to his death. He was the son of Roger IV of Foix and Brunissende of Cardona. He entered into conflicts with both Philip III of France and Peter III of Aragon, who held him in captivity for a time...
. However, the relatives, of the house of Montcada of Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
, of his father's first wife, Constance, opposed his succession. At the instigation of the house of Foix, Ermengol participated in the coalition of rebels against Peter III of Aragon
Peter III of Aragon
Peter the Great was the King of Aragon of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona from 1276 to his death. He conquered Sicily and became its king in 1282. He was one of the greatest of medieval Aragonese monarchs.-Youth and succession:Peter was the eldest son of James I of Aragon and his second wife...
in 1276, but in the succeeding two years he recovered all the territory of his county which had unto then been in the hands of his rivals: the Montcada, the king of Aragon, or the viscount of Cardona
Cardona
Cardona is a town ìn Catalonia, Spain, in the province of Barcelona; about 90 km northwest of the city of Barcelona, on a hill almost surrounded by the river Cardoner, a branch of the Llobregat.Near the town is an extensive deposit of rock salt...
. In 1278, he met the king at 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....
and received Urgel as a fief.
Ermengol attached himself thereafter to Peter's entourage, travelling with the king to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
in 1282 and Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
in 1283. When Peter died in 1295, Ermengol became a close companion and adviser of his sons Alfonso III
Alfonso III of Aragon
Alfonso III , called the Liberal or the Free , was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1285...
, whom he aided in conquering the Kingdom of Majorca
Kingdom of Majorca
The Kingdom of Majorca was founded by James I of Aragon, also known as James The Conqueror. After the death of his first-born son Alfonso, a will was written in 1262 which created the kingdom in order to cede it to his son James...
in 1287, and James II
James II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
.
Before dying at La Llitera without descendants, he named the second son of James II, Alfonso
Alfonso IV of Aragon
Alfonso IV, called the Kind was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1327 to his death. He was the second son of James II and Blanche of Anjou...
, as his heir on the condition that he should marry his niece, Teresa de Entença, his legal heir. With his death, the House of Cabrera
House of Cabrera
The House of Cabrera was an important Catalan dynasty. It began to rule in the Viscounty of Girona, which would be called Viscounty of Cabrera, as well as the Viscounty of Àger, the Sicilian County of Modica and the County of Urgell.- Origin :...
came to an end.