Family History 2.06

Bigelow History: Pre-1620

Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona

 

 

In the year his father (Borrell II) died, 993, Ramon Borrell married. His wife was Ermesinde of Carcassonne, and they had three children.

 

From 1000 to 1003, Ramon had to deal with several marauding attacks from the Muslim ruler, Almanzor, to the south, but he died in 1002, so Ramon attacked in retaliation. He and his allies defeated Almanzor's son at the Battle of Tora. They also fought another battle at Albesa soon afterwards.

 

Further incursions into Muslim territory occurred between 1010 and 1012, and again about 1015, while the Muslims were involved in their own civil war. Ramon was able to reward his vassals with plunder taken on these expeditions.

 

Ramon was responsible for further encouragement to repopulating some of the deserted lands nearer to Barcelona, and was the first Catalan ruler to issue his own coinage.

 

He died in 1017.