The County of Pallars Sobirà or (Pallás) Sobirá,[1] meaning Upper Pallars, was a county in the Hispanic Marches during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, long after the march had ceased to be effectively administered by the Kings of France. It was a division of the County of Pallars, which had been de facto, and possible de jure, independent since the late ninth century. It roughly corresponded with the modern Catalan comarca of Pallars Sobirà.
Coat of arms of the Counts of Pallars.Location of the County of Pallars Sobirà within Catalonia.
In 1011, Sunyer of Pallars died and by his testament his county was divided between his sons, the eldest, Raymond III, receiving Pallars Jussà and the younger, William II, receiving Pallars Sobirà. Pallars Sobirà comprised the original heartland of the county of Pallars: the upper valley of the Noguera Pallaresa.
By the year 1000, the economic and social centre of Pallars was located in Pallars Jussà. It was wealthier than Pallars Sobirà and capable of expansion in the Reconquista against the Muslim territory to its south. During the eleventh century, the comital power in Pallars Jussà was violently reduced by the incessant attacks of Artau I of Pallars Sobirà in alliance with Ermengol III of Urgell. Because Pallars Jussà was so much richer and populous than the poor and mountainous Pallars Sobirà, the nobles of the latter country designed to eliminate the authority of Raymond IV in the former country. Artau himself was barely a count, rather more like the war leader of a band of powerful feudatories whose objective was the pillage of the wealthier rural communities of the lower territories of Pallars Jussà and the repeal of their rights of tax exemption and other immunities. The peasants of Pallars Sobirà were heavily burdened by arbitrary exactions, forced labour, and military service. The barons had the right to exact toltae, forciae, and usatici, that is, "customary levies."[2] In the ensuing war, Raymond IV lost most of his fortresses, including his capital, Segur, to Sobirà. However peace was established between the two countries and Raymond regained his position after Artau's death. Artau's son, Artau II (1081–1124), is recorded as never having fought with his relatives of Pallars Jussà.
High Middle Agesedit
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Pallars Sobirà was isolated high in the Pyrenees and of no importance to affairs in Catalonia on a larger scale. Artau III and Artau IV are barely more than names and neither they nor their successors took part in the succession to the county of Pallars Jussà before it passed to the County of Barcelona in 1192.
By 1199, Pallars Sobirà was inherited by a woman, Guillelma, who sold her county to her husband, Roger of Comminges, and retired to a convent.
county, pallars, sobirà, pallás, sobirá, meaning, upper, pallars, county, hispanic, marches, during, eleventh, twelfth, centuries, long, after, march, ceased, effectively, administered, kings, france, division, county, pallars, which, been, facto, possible, ju. The County of Pallars Sobira or Pallas Sobira 1 meaning Upper Pallars was a county in the Hispanic Marches during the eleventh and twelfth centuries long after the march had ceased to be effectively administered by the Kings of France It was a division of the County of Pallars which had been de facto and possible de jure independent since the late ninth century It roughly corresponded with the modern Catalan comarca of Pallars Sobira Coat of arms of the Counts of Pallars Location of the County of Pallars Sobira within Catalonia Contents 1 Division and war in Pallars 2 High Middle Ages 3 List of counts 3 1 House of Pallars 3 2 House of Comminges or Couserans 3 3 House of Mataplana 4 Sources 5 NotesDivision and war in Pallars editIn 1011 Sunyer of Pallars died and by his testament his county was divided between his sons the eldest Raymond III receiving Pallars Jussa and the younger William II receiving Pallars Sobira Pallars Sobira comprised the original heartland of the county of Pallars the upper valley of the Noguera Pallaresa By the year 1000 the economic and social centre of Pallars was located in Pallars Jussa It was wealthier than Pallars Sobira and capable of expansion in the Reconquista against the Muslim territory to its south During the eleventh century the comital power in Pallars Jussa was violently reduced by the incessant attacks of Artau I of Pallars Sobira in alliance with Ermengol III of Urgell Because Pallars Jussa was so much richer and populous than the poor and mountainous Pallars Sobira the nobles of the latter country designed to eliminate the authority of Raymond IV in the former country Artau himself was barely a count rather more like the war leader of a band of powerful feudatories whose objective was the pillage of the wealthier rural communities of the lower territories of Pallars Jussa and the repeal of their rights of tax exemption and other immunities The peasants of Pallars Sobira were heavily burdened by arbitrary exactions forced labour and military service The barons had the right to exact toltae forciae and usatici that is customary levies 2 In the ensuing war Raymond IV lost most of his fortresses including his capital Segur to Sobira However peace was established between the two countries and Raymond regained his position after Artau s death Artau s son Artau II 1081 1124 is recorded as never having fought with his relatives of Pallars Jussa High Middle Ages editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it June 2008 Pallars Sobira was isolated high in the Pyrenees and of no importance to affairs in Catalonia on a larger scale Artau III and Artau IV are barely more than names and neither they nor their successors took part in the succession to the county of Pallars Jussa before it passed to the County of Barcelona in 1192 By 1199 Pallars Sobira was inherited by a woman Guillelma who sold her county to her husband Roger of Comminges and retired to a convent List of counts editHouse of Pallars edit William II 1011 1035 Bernard II 1035 1049 Artau I 1049 1081 Artau II 1081 1124 Artau III 1124 1167 Artau IV 1167 1180 1182 Bernard III 1180 1182 1199 Guillemina 1199 1229 House of Comminges or Couserans edit Roger I 1229 1240 Roger II 1240 1256 Arnau Roger I 1256 1288 Raymond Roger I 1288 1295 Sibil la 1295 1330 House of Mataplana edit Arnau Roger II 1330 1343 Raymond Roger II 1343 1350 Hugh Roger I 1350 1366 Arnau Roger III 1366 1369 Hugh Roger II 1369 1416 Roger Bernard I 1416 1424 Bernard Roger I 1424 1442 Arnau Roger IV 1442 1451 Hugh Roger III 1451 1487 Sources editFreedman Paul Military Orders and Peasant Servitude in Catalonia Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries The Hispanic American Historical Review Vol 65 No 1 Feb 1985 pp 91 110 Notes edit Pallas is an alternative Castilian form as is Sobira One or both may be preferred in rare contexts Freedman 109 42 24 43 N 1 07 54 E 42 4119 N 1 1317 E 42 4119 1 1317 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title County of Pallars Sobira amp oldid 978217409, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
