Peter II of Béarn
Encyclopedia
Peter II was the Viscount of Béarn from 1134 to his death. He was also the viscount of Gabardan, Brulhois, and Gabarret
(as Peter III).
Son of Peter II of Gabarret and Guiscarda of Béarn
, he received the vicecomital title after the death of his maternal uncle Centule VI
. While he was a minor, his regency was exercised by his maternal grandmother Talesa of Aragon
(until 1136 at least). His mother continued the regency until 1047.
Married to a Catalan princess, he participated in the "crusade" of 1148 organised by Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona. In this he followed the illustrious tradition of his family in aiding the Aragonese monarchs against the Moors
in Spain. The 1148 campaign was a success, culminating in the conquest of Tortosa
, Lleida
, and Fraga
. That final conquest has symbolic significance for the Bearnese, as Centule VI had died at Fraga's walls. For this, Peter requested and obtained the exchange of his title "Lord of Huesca
" for "Lord of Fraga."
Peter also promoted the Way of Saint James and, contrary to his grandfather Gaston IV, established hospitals along the route through the pass of Roncesvalles
and not that of Somport
. By his time, however, Roncesvalles had already surpassed Santa Cristina at Somport as the preferred pass of the pilgrims. His final public act was the foundation of a new pilgrim hospital in Ordios in the year of his death, which shortly followed. He left two young children, Gaston
and Mary
.
Gabarret
Gabarret is a commune in the Landes department in Aquitaine in south-western France....
(as Peter III).
Son of Peter II of Gabarret and Guiscarda of Béarn
Guiscarda of Béarn
Guiscarda was the eldest child of Gaston IV of Béarn and Talesa of Aragon. She later succeeded her younger brother Centule VI as viscountess in 1134....
, he received the vicecomital title after the death of his maternal uncle Centule VI
Centule VI of Béarn
Centule VI was the Viscount of Béarn from 1131 to his death. Like his father, he was an ideal Christian prince for his age, ready to serve the Church in the Reconquista....
. While he was a minor, his regency was exercised by his maternal grandmother Talesa of Aragon
Talesa of Aragon
Talesa, Talèse, Talèze, or Ataresa was an Aragonese noblewoman and relative of the royal Jiménez dynasty. She was the daughter of Sancho, Count of Aibar, natural brother of Sancho V of Navarre...
(until 1136 at least). His mother continued the regency until 1047.
Married to a Catalan princess, he participated in the "crusade" of 1148 organised by Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona. In this he followed the illustrious tradition of his family in aiding the Aragonese monarchs against the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
in Spain. The 1148 campaign was a success, culminating in the conquest of Tortosa
Tortosa
-External links:* *** * * *...
, 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...
, and 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...
. That final conquest has symbolic significance for the Bearnese, as Centule VI had died at Fraga's walls. For this, Peter requested and obtained the exchange of his title "Lord of Huesca
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
" for "Lord of Fraga."
Peter also promoted the Way of Saint James and, contrary to his grandfather Gaston IV, established hospitals along the route through the pass of Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles is a small village and municipality in Navarre, northern Spain. It is situated on the small river Urrobi at an altitude of some 900 metres in the Pyrenees, about 8 kilometres from the French frontier....
and not that of Somport
Somport
Somport is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. The pass, whose name is derived from the Latin Summus portus, was one of the most popular routes for crossing the mountains for soldiers, merchants, and St...
. By his time, however, Roncesvalles had already surpassed Santa Cristina at Somport as the preferred pass of the pilgrims. His final public act was the foundation of a new pilgrim hospital in Ordios in the year of his death, which shortly followed. He left two young children, Gaston
Gaston V of Béarn
Gaston V was the Viscount of Béarn, Gabardan, and Brulhois from 1153 to his death.He was the son of Peter II and a Catalan princess. When his father died in 1153, he inherited his title under the regency of his grandmother Guiscarda...
and Mary
Mary of Béarn
Mary was the daughter, sister, wife, and mother of various Viscounts of Béarn, Gabardan, and Brulhois. Briefly, from 1170 to 1171, she ruled Béarn as Viscountess in her own right...
.