Family History 2.04

 Bigelow History: Pre-1630

 

Sunyer, Count of Barcelona

 When Wilfred the Hairy died in 897, his two sons, Wilfred II Borell and Sunyer, jointly ruled the counties they inherited from their father.

 

In 911, Wilfred II died and Sunyer became sole ruler. He continued Wilfred's programmes of strengthening the populations of the border areas and building up the power of the church in those areas.

 

But instead of just standing ready to defend his domains from the Moorish kingdoms to the south, he actively sought to extend his control in that direction. But in 912 he was defeated by his neighbouring Moorish ruler, only to succeed in defeating and killing him in 914.

 

After the borderlands to the south had remained empty for fifteen years or so without incident, he started to repopulate them.

 

936-7 he made further gains against the Moors, but a few years later the Muslims sent a fleet to attack Barcelona and Sunyer was forced to eat humble pie.

 

In 947 he retired to a monastery, where he died in 950.