Borrell II, Count of Barcelona
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Borrel II (died 992) was Count of Barcelona, Gerona, and Ausona from 947 and Count of Urgel from 948.
He was the son of Sunifred II. During his reign, he employed the title dux Gothiæ, or "Duke of Gothia." In 947, he retired his father to a monastery and took over the government of the Counties: Barcelona, Gerona, and Ausona. He ruled jointly with his brother Miro I until 966. In 948, he inherited Urgel.
He married Letgarda, daughter of Raymond III of Toulouse, with whom he had two sons and two daughters: Ramon Borrell, Ermengol, Ermengarda and Richilda. After his wifes death he married again Eimeruda of Auvergne.
He was a diplomat, not a warrior like his father. He maintained cordial relations with his most powerful neighbours: the Franks to the north and the Moors to the south. He exchanged many emissaries with the Caliphate of Córdoba and confirmed a peace treaty with Al-Hakam II. He likewise maintained good relations with the papacy.
Borrell was also a patron of learning and culture. In 967, Borrell visited the monastery of Aurillac and the Abbot asked the count to take Gerbert of Aurillac with him so that the lad could study mathematics in Spain. In the following years, Gerbert studied in the Christian-held city of Barcelona and possibly in the Islamic cities of Córdoba and Seville.
In 969 and 970, he travelled to Rome to meet Pope John XIII and the Emperor Otto I in order to reorganise the ecclesiastical structure in Catalonia. This included the reinstatement of the Archdiocese of Tarragona. The Pope persuaded Otto to employ Gerbert as a tutor for his young son, the future emperor Otto II.
In 985 however the Hispanic March was attacked by Caliph Almanzor. This was the largest and most serious attack during Borrell's reign. Almanzor managed to take Barcelona which was pillaged and sacked. Many citizens were taken prisoner by the Muslim forces. Borrell's petitions sent to Lothair the current , King of France, in Verdun were ignored. As a consequence of this, when Hugh Capet ascended the French throne in 988 Borrell refused to pledge his fealty. As a result the bond of vassalage between the March and France was broken. De facto independence had begun in earnest and Catalonia became drawn into a more Iberian influence.
In 988, Borrell divided his lands between his sons, giving Ramon Borrell his original inheritance (from 947) and Ermengol the County of Urgel. In 992 after passing over all govvernment roles he died.
| Preceded by: Sunifred II |
Count of Barcelona 947–992 |
Succeeded by: Ramon Borrell |
