Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ramon Berenguer IV (1195 – 19 August 1245), Count of Provence and Forcalquier, was the son of Alfonso II of Provence and Garsenda of Sabran, heiress of Forcalquier. After his father's death (1209), Ramon was imprisoned in a castle in Aragon until he was able to escape in 1219 and claim his inheritance. He was a powerful and energetic ruler who added Forcalquier to his domain.

On 5 June 1219, Ramon married Beatrice of Savoy, daughter of Thomas I of Savoy. She was a shrewd and politically astute woman, whose beauty was likened by Matthew Paris to that of a second Niobe. Along with two stillborn sons (1220 & 1225), Ramon and Beatrice had four daughters, all of whom married kings.

1. Marguerite of Provence (1221–1295), wife of Louis IX of France
2. Eleanor of Provence (1223–1291), wife of Henry III of England
3. Sanchia of Provence (1228–1261), wife of Richard, Earl of Cornwall
4. Beatrice of Provence (1234–1267), wife of Charles I of Sicily

Ramon Berenguer IV died in Aix, France.

[edit] Sources

• Howell, Margaret. Eleanor of Provence: Queenship in Thirteenth-Century England, 2001
• FMG on Raymond Berenger de Provence, the fourth Ct. of Provence