Berenguer Ramon I, Count of Barcelona

Berengar Raymond I the Hunchback (* 1005, † May 26 1035 ) (Spanish: Ramón Berenguer I el Corvado or el Curvo; Catalan: Ramon Berenguer I, El Corbat ); was from 1015 to his death, the Count of Barcelona, Girona and Ausona.

He was the son of Raymond Borrell of Barcelona and his wife Ermesinde of Carcassonne.

He accepted the suzerainty of Sancho the Great of Navarre.

Raimund Berengar as a historical figure is enigmatic, shrouded in incomprehensible contradictions and ambiguities. First he was a man of peace and ordered during his reign in peace. He also reassured its neighbors and the Count of Urgell, Ermengol II

He asked again friendly relations with Hugo I, Count of Ampurias ago and used it with William I of Besalu and Wilfried II, Count of Cerdanya. He was a son of the Church, who used relations with the Pope and in 1032 made ​​a pilgrimage to Rome. On many occasions he traveled to Zaragoza and Navarre, to discuss with Sancho III. , King of Navarre, their mutual positions against the Counts of Toulouse. His confidant and councilors were the Abbot Oliva, the judge Ponç Bofill, Gombau de Besora and the bishops Pedro of Girona and Barcelona Deudado. In 1025 he ordered that the co-owners of a hereditary had to be free from taxation.

On the other hand, Raymond Berengar I. Government marks the beginning of the waning power in Catalonia. At the time of his father's death in 1017, Raimund Berengar was still a minor, and his mother Ermesinde took over until 1023 the regency for him. But even when he had attained his majority, his mother did not want to relinquish the regency and reigned with him. According to some chroniclers, Berengar Raymond's character was much to be desired; he is described as weak and indecisive.

Moreover, his policy of peace with the Moors for the nobility was a stumbling block to watch the war with Islam as a means to achieve fame, fortune and perhaps salvation. This meant that some noblemen acted outside the wishes of the Count.

Ermesinde was energetic and happy indecisive unlike her son ..

But as a woman exerted their control over the military was severely hampered and the organization of an attack in order to satisfy the aristocracy, went to zero. The weakening of the count's authority was shortly before the death of Raymond Berengar I. 1035 very obvious. He distributed his possessions among his sons. Raimund Berengar I received the counties of Girona and Barcelona to Llobregat, Sancho the borderlands of Llobregat to the Muslim countries, the county of Penedès county with its capital in Olérdola. Wilhelm received the county Ausona.

Marriages and descendants

1021 married Raimund Berengar I. Sancha Sánchez (daughter of Sancho García, Count of Castile ( Castilla house ) ), with whom he had two sons:

• Ramon Berenguer I, succeeded him as Count of Barcelona
• Sancho

1027 he married his second wife Gisela of Lluca, with whom he had a son and a daughter:

• William, his successor as Earl of Ausona
• Sibylla of Barcelona who married Henry of Burgundy, and consequently is an ancestor of the kings of Portugal.

• Graf ( Barcelona)
• Graf ( Girona)
• House Barcelona
• Born in 1005
• Died 1035
• Man