Ermengol or Armengol I (974–1010), called el de Córdoba, was the Count of Urgell from 992 to his death. He was the second son of Borrell II of Barcelona and his first wife, Letgarda. He was the second of the counts of Urgell and famous mainly for his participation in the Reconquista.
A man of culture, Ermengol was open to influences from wider Europe and made two voyages to Rome, in 998 and 1001. He was a stimulus to his nobles in making pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela and Le Puy. He also reformed the judiciary of his county to make justice more available to all.[1] He also began to reassert his authority over the outlying castles of his realm, whose lords were acting independently of his power.[1]
Ermengol also maintained an intense war against the Caliphate of Córdoba. In 1003, Urgell was invaded by Abd al-Malik al-Muzaffar. Aided by the brothers Bernard I of Besalú and Wifred II of Cerdagne, and his own brother, Ramon Borrell of Barcelona, Ermengol defeated them at the Battle of Torà, followed by a narrower victory at the Battle of Albesa.[2] He was captured by Abd al-Malik, the Córdoban hajib, during reprisals in the summer, but was freed by March 1004. In 1008, he led several successful expeditions against the Moors.[3] In 1010, he participated in the expedition of his brother Ramon Borrell of Barcelona against Córdoba itself. He died nearby at Castell de Bacar. His testament, dated around 1010, includes one of the first-attested mentions of the game of chess in Western Europe.
Familyedit
Before 10 July 1000, Ermengol married Tetberga, presumably a daughter of Artaud I, Count of Forez, by his wife Tetberga of Limoges. The younger Tetberga died between 7 April and 3 November 1005, when Ermengol's second wife Guisla (Gisela) is first mentioned. Guisla's family is not known, but she may have been the homonymous daughter of Gausfred I of Roussillon, named in her father's will in February 989. She survived him and was still alive on 18 November 1010. From this second union came two children:
Lewis, Archibald R. The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718–1050. University of Texas Press: Austin, 1965.
Aurell i Cardona, Martin. "Jalons pour une enquête sur les stratégies matrimoniales des comtes catalans (IXe-XIe s.)" Symposium Internacional sobre els Origens de catalunya (Segles VIII-XI), 2 vol, Barcelona 1991–2; vol 1, pp. 282–364.
Stasser, Thierry. "Origine familiale de trois comtesses de Pallars." Anuario de Estudios Medievales, 26/1, 1996, pp. 3–16.
ermengol, count, urgell, ermengol, armengol, 1010, called, córdoba, count, urgell, from, death, second, borrell, barcelona, first, wife, letgarda, second, counts, urgell, famous, mainly, participation, reconquista, culture, ermengol, open, influences, from, wi. Ermengol or Armengol I 974 1010 called el de Cordoba was the Count of Urgell from 992 to his death He was the second son of Borrell II of Barcelona and his first wife Letgarda He was the second of the counts of Urgell and famous mainly for his participation in the Reconquista A man of culture Ermengol was open to influences from wider Europe and made two voyages to Rome in 998 and 1001 He was a stimulus to his nobles in making pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela and Le Puy He also reformed the judiciary of his county to make justice more available to all 1 He also began to reassert his authority over the outlying castles of his realm whose lords were acting independently of his power 1 Ermengol also maintained an intense war against the Caliphate of Cordoba In 1003 Urgell was invaded by Abd al Malik al Muzaffar Aided by the brothers Bernard I of Besalu and Wifred II of Cerdagne and his own brother Ramon Borrell of Barcelona Ermengol defeated them at the Battle of Tora followed by a narrower victory at the Battle of Albesa 2 He was captured by Abd al Malik the Cordoban hajib during reprisals in the summer but was freed by March 1004 In 1008 he led several successful expeditions against the Moors 3 In 1010 he participated in the expedition of his brother Ramon Borrell of Barcelona against Cordoba itself He died nearby at Castell de Bacar His testament dated around 1010 includes one of the first attested mentions of the game of chess in Western Europe Family editBefore 10 July 1000 Ermengol married Tetberga presumably a daughter of Artaud I Count of Forez by his wife Tetberga of Limoges The younger Tetberga died between 7 April and 3 November 1005 when Ermengol s second wife Guisla Gisela is first mentioned Guisla s family is not known but she may have been the homonymous daughter of Gausfred I of Roussillon named in her father s will in February 989 She survived him and was still alive on 18 November 1010 From this second union came two children Ermengol II his successor Ermesinda married before 1029 Raymond III of Pallars JussaNotes edit a b Lewis Archibald R The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society 718 1050 University of Texas Press Austin 1965 p 379 Erdmann Carl 1977 The Origin of the Idea of Crusade Princeton Princeton University Press 99 100 Erdmann based on Adhemar de Chabannes Sources editLewis Archibald R The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society 718 1050 University of Texas Press Austin 1965 Aurell i Cardona Martin Jalons pour une enquete sur les strategies matrimoniales des comtes catalans IXe XIe s Symposium Internacional sobre els Origens de catalunya Segles VIII XI 2 vol Barcelona 1991 2 vol 1 pp 282 364 Stasser Thierry Origine familiale de trois comtesses de Pallars Anuario de Estudios Medievales 26 1 1996 pp 3 16 Preceded byBorrell II Count of Barcelona Count of Urgell992 1011 Succeeded byErmengol II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ermengol I Count of Urgell amp oldid 1188357823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
