County of Barcelona - Independence

Independence

During the tenth century, the Counts of Barcelona strengthened their political authority and further distanced themselves from Frankish influence. In 985 Barcelona, then ruled by Count Borrell, was attacked and burned by Muslims, led by Almanzor. The count took refuge in the Montserrat mountains, awaiting help from the Frankish king, which never arrived, resulting in resentment. In 988, the reign of the Carolingian dynasty ended and was replaced by the Capeta dynasty. Borrell II was required to swear allegiance to the new French king, but there is no evidence that the Count of Barcelona acceded to the call, as the French king had to go north to resolve a conflict. This has been interpreted as the starting point of de facto independence of the county. Full independence was obtained by King James I in the Treaty of Corbeil (1258).

Subsequently, the county of Barcelona grew in importance and expanded its territory with successive counts. It took over other Hispanic counties and expanded slowly towards the south as a result of battles against al-Andalus and the repopulation of areas such as Tarragona and the surrounding countryside.

Ramon Borrell's reign was followed by that of his son Ramon Berenguer I. His mother was the forceful Ermesenda of Carcassonne. Ramón Berenguer I reinforced the county's power by subjecting the rebellious Penedes nobles, partnering with the counts of Urgell and Pallars, acquiring the counties of Carcassonne and Rasez, charging pariahs from the Zaragoza and Lleida kingdoms, and renewing the legalislative framework of the county to allow for the introduction of the Barcelona Usatges. These were a set of rules and customs that would increase in subsequent years. In his will he decided not to divide the territories again, but he transferred unified rule to his twin sons, Ramon Berenguer II and Berenguer Ramon II.

After crisis provoked by the murder of Ramón Berenguer II and accusations of fratricide against his brother, who died in the First Crusade, his son and heir, Ramón Berenguer III, was able to consolidate and expand the boundaries of the county. He conquered part of the county of Ampurias and, leading a wide coalition, he also attempted to conquer Mallorca, but he had to abandon it because of the advance of the Almoravids troops on the peninsula. He also received, by inheritance, the Besalú and Sardinia Counties, gradually forming a territory very similar to what was once Old Catalonia. He also moved towards Lleida and repopulated border areas such as the city of Tarragona, effectively restoring it as the episcopal see. He also extended his trans-Pyrenean reign by incorporating Provence county through his marriage to Countess Dolça in 1112.