Álvaro of Urgel
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Álvaro (Burgos, 1239 – Foix, 1268), called el Castellà ("the Castilian"), was the Count of Urgel and Viscount of Áger from 1243. He was the son of Ponce I and succeeded his brother Armengol IX within a year of their father's death.
Upon inheriting the county of Urgel, he exchanged his birth name, Rodrigo, for Álvaro and married Constance of Montcada, a relative of the ruling family of Béarn, at the order of James I of Aragon in 1253. However, he detested this marriage and had it annulled, marrying Cecilia, daughter of Roger-Bernard II of Foix, in 1256. This was to be the source of great enmity and conflict between the houses of Béarn and Foix. The House of Barcelona supported the Bearnese.
In 1259, Álvaro breached his feudal obligations to the king of Aragon and brought down the royal wrath on his principality: the seneschal Pedro de Montcada invaded and occupied Ponts. In 1267, the king of Aragon intervened again, this time in the legal dispute between Álvaro's two wives. Álvaro was forced to flee with his wife Cecilia to Foix, leaving Urgel in the hands of his son Armengol X.
Preceded by Armengol IX |
Count of Urgel 1243 – 1268 |
Succeeded by Armengol X |