Berenguer the Wise

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Berengar, called the Wise (known in French as Bérenger le Sage and in both Catalan and Spanish as Berenguer de Tolosa) was count (or duke) of Toulouse (814-835) and duke (or margrave) of Septimania (832-835) as well as count of Barcelona [1].

[edit] Origins

Berengar was the son of Margrave Unroch II of Friuli and Ingeltrude of Paris and brother of Margrave Eberhard of Friuli. His uncle was Berengar of Friuli, Holy Roman Emperor[2][3]. Their dynasty is known as the Unrochides or Hunrochides in French and the Unruochingers in German.

[edit] Rebellion of Pepin I

In 814, Louis the Pious installed Berengar as Count of Toulouse in succession to Raymond Raphinel who had been appointed by Charlemagne. He was also a councillor of Pepin I of Aquitaine in 816. In November 831, Pepin of Aquitaine revolted against his father, Louis the Pious. Berengar advised him not to rebel, but Bernard of Septimania incited him to revolt.

In the beginning of 832, Louis the Pious began campaigning against his rebellious son. Berengar, loyal to the Emperor, attacked the domains of Bernard, taking Roussillon (with Vallespir), Razès, and Conflent. On February 2, 832, Berengar had already reached Elna. Finally, in autumn of the same year, successive victories by the Imperial forces compelled Pepin and Bernard to appear before the Emperor (October) to plea for peace. Pepin was dispossessed of his kingdom and sent, as a prisoner, to Trier. His territories were given to Charles the Bald, youngest son of the Emperor.

Bernard was accused of infidelity and dispossessed of all his lands in Septimania and Gothia. They were given to Berengar of Toulouse. Gaucelm Bernard's son was also dispossessed of the majority of his lands, but for a time kept the county of Ampurias although he lost it to Berengar later.

[edit] Rule in Catalonia

In 833, Aznar I Galíndez, count of Urgel and Cerdanya, usurped the counties of Pallars and Ribagorza, from under Berengar's rule.

In 834, when another rebel Lothair was defeated, Bernard, having fought on the side of Pepin, reclaimed his old domains as the price of his support and for the price his follower's had paid in blood. The lands were passed to Bernard and Berengar was weakened.

Aznar I Galíndez was deposed as count of Pallars, Ribagorza, Urgel, and Cerdanya and his counties were granted to Sunifred of Carcassonne, son of Bello of Carcassonne, and brother of Oliba of Carcassonne. Sunifred took Cerdanya easily but Aznar resisted in Urgel (until 838), Pallars (until c.843), and Ribagorza (until c.844). The counties of Ampurias and Roussillon were granted to the brothers Sunyer and Alaric, of unknown orign, but perhaps also from the ruling dynasty of Carcassonne.

As a result Berengar's Pyrenean lands were confiscated unlawfully and redistributed by the Imperial crown to others. His Catalonian grants were taken away and given to his old enemy. He was left with nothing but the County of Toulouse after fighting loyally for the old emperor and the successful Pepin.

In June 835, Bernard and Berengar were summoned to an Assembly at Cremieux, near Lyon, where a decision would be made about the distribution of lands in Septimania and Gothia, but on the way Berengar died unexpectedly. Now without any obstacle, the Emperor gave the regions Counties to Bernard and Toulouse to Warin.

Preceded by Raymond Raphinel	Count of Toulouse 814–835	Succeeded by Warin
Preceded by Bernard	Count of Barcelona 832–835	Succeeded by Bernard, again
Preceded by Gaucelm	Count of Empúries 832–835	Succeeded by Sunyer I