Bernard-Roger, Count of Bigorre

Bernard Roger († 1036-1038 ) was a Count of couserans and Lord of Foix. He was the second son of his predecessor, Count Roger of the Old and his wife Adelais. Furthermore, he was by marriage than I. Bernard Roger Count of Bigorre.

Bernard Roger is mentioned already in 1011 when Count in a document of the Abbey of Saint- Hilaire in Limoux, he was probably some time co-regent of his father, who died the following year. Although Bernard Roger probably still bore the title of Earl of couserans, he is generally regarded as the first of the Counts of Foix. The castle of Foix was only part of the domain of the county couserans, but it should be under Bernard Roger and his successors became the main residence of the Counts and thus also to the new namesake of their territory. Bernard Roger even extend the existing weir to a tower, called the Tour d' Arget (pictured left), which dominates the valley of the river of the same name on the north side of the rock. The roof of the tower, however, was not applied until the 14th century. Furthermore promoted Bernard Roger during his reign to build a town at the foot of the castle.

About other actions of Count is not known. Nevertheless, his political influence in those days must have been very high, which can be inferred from as far-reaching family ties to his family. Bernard Roger died around the years 1036 to 1038 and is said to have reached an advanced age of over 70 years for that time. He was buried in the Abbey of St. Volusien in Foix.

Family and Erbregelung

Count Bernard Roger was married to Arsinde / Gersende ( † about 1032 to 1034 ), the heiress of the county of Bigorre. Their children were:

• Bernard II († 1077 ), Count of Bigorre
• Roger I († 1067), Count of Foix, Count Roger II as a part of Carcassonne
• Peter Bernard ( † 1071 ), Count of couserans, from 1067, Count of Foix
• Heraclius, Bishop of Bigorre
• Gilberga / Ermensinde († on December 1, 1049 ), married since 1036 with King Ramiro I of Aragon
• Estefanía († 1058 ), married since 1038 with King García III. (V. ) of Navarre

Like his father Bernard Roger met to share his inheritance for his sons the decision. The oldest Bernard received the maternal inheritance Bigorre, Foix house that should be there but die out after one generation.

For the second son of Roger but he chose the county couserans divide by highlighting sparked Foix and other castles in the surrounding areas such as Castelpenent and Lordat from couserans and Roger gave her this. For this new territory that pays de Foix (country of Foix ), Roger should be equipped with the count's rights, ultimately causing the county of Foix was founded. For the third son of Peter Bernard remained only the reduced couserans. However, since his elder brother should die without an heir, Peter Bernard reunited both territories.