Wilfred the Hairy

Wilfried I. Barcelona, called Wilfred the Hairy ( Catalan Guifré el PILOS [ gifɾe əl pilos ], Spanish Wifredo el Velloso; † August 11 897 ) was a Catalan nobleman and is considered the founder of Catalonia. His surname is a deliberate counter-concept to its former Frankish feudal lord (up to 865) Charles " the Bald ".

Wilfried came from the Carcassonne region. His birthplace is suspected in the area of Prades in the county Conflent.

When Count of Urgell and Cerdanya (since 870) he transferred the Carolingians 878 the counties of Barcelona, Girona and Besalu in the Spanish market. He combined these counties as well as the bishopric Osona and Montserrat to a largely autonomous from the Frankish Empire Empire, which he managed from Barcelona.

Wilfried was the last Count of Barcelona used by the Franks. He received from Charles the Bald the right to inherit the title and estates. From this point, titles of nobility were inherited, and King of the Franks agreed to the transfer only. Thus the dynasty of the Counts of Barcelona, ​​which is considered as the basis of the independence of Catalonia founded.

At this time probably made the national colors of Catalonia. According to legend, visited Charles the Bald the wounded after a battle Wilfried at the bedside. There he dipped his finger in the blood of the wounded and thus drew four red stripes on its coat of arms still loose plate. They were run through the quatre barres that the yellow cloth of the Catalan flag ( Senyera ).

Wilfried built in the year 880 (?) The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll ( known as the "cradle of Catalonia " ) and in the year 885 the convent in nearby Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his crown is kept. In both monasteries, he continued his children as abbot or abbess.

Famous as the spiritual leader of Catalonia is his grandson Oliva, also Abbot of Ripoll.

Progeny

Wilfried and his wife Guinidilda ( Winilda ) - the two were married in 877 - had at least nine children: