Roger I Trencavel
Encyclopedia
Roger I Trencavel was the eldest son of Bernard Ato IV
, Viscount of Albi, Agde, Béziers, Carcassonne, Nîmes, and Razès. On his father's death in 1130 he inherited Albi, Carcassonne, and Razès, while his younger brother Raymond
inherited Agde and Béziers and his youngest brother Bernard Ato V
inherited Nîmes.
Beginning in Carcassonne in 1141, Roger was the first Trencavel
ruler to appoint vicar
s to go about the vicecomital business at the local level. He appointed vicars both from within his court and without the regions which they were supposed to adminsiter. It is clear, however, that Trencavel government was still rather primitive in Roger I's time.
Roger I was a notable benefactor of the Order of the Temple
and a fervent Crusader
, making large grants to the first Templar preceptory in Occitania
at Douzens
. He made a grant to the Temple in 1133 of the village of Brucafel "that Omnipotent God in his mercy should make us and our posterity live in good perseverance, and that after the course of this life should deign to receive us in a good end." In July 1147 Roger endeavoured to join the Second Crusade
and so granted to the preceptory of Douzens the village of Campagne-sur-Aude
with all jurisdiction in return for their taking up the mortgage of 3,000 solidi of Urgell on the land. Roger also exempted the Templars from taxes, such as the usaticum, on all his lands. He left from Agde
on the Crusade after being released from the encumbrance of his mortgage later in 1147.
Roger was married to Bernarda (Bernarde), but he died childless in 1150. He was succeeded in Carcassonne, in accordance with an agreement of 1132, by his brother Raymond. Albi and Razès also went to Raymond, while Bernard Ato sqabbled over Agde, which was eventually split between the surviving brothers.
Bernard Ato IV
Bernard Ato IV was the Viscount of Nîmes of the Trencavel family from 1074 to his death.Bernard Ato was the son of Raymond Bernard of Nîmes and Ermengarde of Carcassonne.In 1125, Bernard Ato retook Carcassonne....
, Viscount of Albi, Agde, Béziers, Carcassonne, Nîmes, and Razès. On his father's death in 1130 he inherited Albi, Carcassonne, and Razès, while his younger brother Raymond
Raymond I Trencavel
Raymond I Trencavel was the Viscount of Agde and Béziers from 1130 and Viscount of Albi, Carcassonne, and Razès from 1150. He was a member of the Trencavel family, ruling the lands of the elder branch....
inherited Agde and Béziers and his youngest brother Bernard Ato V
Bernard Ato V
Bernard Ato V was the Viscount of Nîmes of the Trencavel family from 1129 to his death.In 1138, Bernard Ato swore an oath of fidelity to Alfonso Jordan, Count of Toulouse, along with his brothers Roger of Carcassonne and Raymond of Béziers...
inherited Nîmes.
Beginning in Carcassonne in 1141, Roger was the first Trencavel
Trencavel
The Trencavel were an important noble family in Languedoc during the 10th through 13th centuries. The name "Trencavel," originally a nickname and later a family name, may derive from the Occitan words for "nutcracker"...
ruler to appoint vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
s to go about the vicecomital business at the local level. He appointed vicars both from within his court and without the regions which they were supposed to adminsiter. It is clear, however, that Trencavel government was still rather primitive in Roger I's time.
Roger I was a notable benefactor of the Order of the Temple
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
and a fervent Crusader
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
, making large grants to the first Templar preceptory in Occitania
Occitania
Occitania , also sometimes lo País d'Òc, "the Oc Country"), is the region in southern Europe where Occitan was historically the main language spoken, and where it is sometimes still used, for the most part as a second language...
at Douzens
Douzens
Douzens is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
. He made a grant to the Temple in 1133 of the village of Brucafel "that Omnipotent God in his mercy should make us and our posterity live in good perseverance, and that after the course of this life should deign to receive us in a good end." In July 1147 Roger endeavoured to join the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
and so granted to the preceptory of Douzens the village of Campagne-sur-Aude
Campagne-sur-Aude
Campagne-sur-Aude is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
with all jurisdiction in return for their taking up the mortgage of 3,000 solidi of Urgell on the land. Roger also exempted the Templars from taxes, such as the usaticum, on all his lands. He left from Agde
Agde
Agde is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France. It is the Mediterranean port of the Canal du Midi.-Location:Agde is located on the river Hérault, 4 km from the Mediterranean Sea, and 750 km from Paris...
on the Crusade after being released from the encumbrance of his mortgage later in 1147.
Roger was married to Bernarda (Bernarde), but he died childless in 1150. He was succeeded in Carcassonne, in accordance with an agreement of 1132, by his brother Raymond. Albi and Razès also went to Raymond, while Bernard Ato sqabbled over Agde, which was eventually split between the surviving brothers.
Sources
- Graham-Leigh, Elaine. The Southern French Nobility and the Albigensian Crusade. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2005. ISBN 1 84383 129 5.
- Barber, MalcolmMalcolm BarberMalcolm Charles Barber is a British scholar of medieval history, described as the world's leading living expert on the Knights Templar. He is considered to have written the two most comprehensive books on the subject, The Trial of the Templars and The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the...
. "The Templar Preceptory of Douzens (Aude) in the Twelfth Century." The World of Eleanor of Aquitaine: Literature and Society in Southern France between the Eleventh and Thirteenth Centuries. edd. Marcus Graham Bull and Catherine Léglu. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2005. ISBN 1 84383 114 7.