Humfrid

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Humfrid (also Humsfrid, Unifred, or Hunifredo) was the count of Barcelona, Gerona, Ampurias, Roussillon, and Narbonne from 858 to 864. He was a Frank by birth, with no connection to Gothia. He rebelled against Louis the German, the king of East Francia, and was forced to flee to Charles the Bald, the king of West Francia, to whom he was one of the few to remain loyal. He was appoitend count and margrave of several counties in the Marca Hispanica by Charles.

In 858, Humfrid immediately negotiated a treaty of peace with Abd al-Rahman, governor of Zaragoza, and marched into Gaul to the assistance of Charles. He arrived at Beaune in February and he did homage to the king on 21 March. He then joined Charles in making war on the Norsemen. Louis took this as an opportunity to invade the country and Humfrid assisted Charles in fending him off. In September, Humfrid regrouped with his forces at Beaune before joining in the defeat of Louis at Saint Quentin on 15 January 859.

In 861, the Moors besieged Barcelona, but Humfrid bought them off and renewed the treaty with the consent of Charles.

In 862, Charles made his son Charles the Child King of Aquitaine. This was opposed by the nobles, who did not support the young Charles in his subsequent rebellion. The elder Charles accused Humfrid of disloyalty. On 19 August, Humfrid was deposed. He was not to give up, though. He took Toulouse and killed Count Raymond I in the fighting. Charles responded by confiscating Humfrid's Burgundiand lands. Even the pretender Pepin II of Aquitaine led a band of Norsemen in an attack on Toulouse, but was repulsed. Humfrid then fled to Italy.


Preceded by
Odalric
Count of Barcelona
858865
Succeeded by
Bernard


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