Centule II of Bigorre
Encyclopedia
Centule II (died 1128) was the Count of Bigorre from 1114 to his death. He broke Bigorre
's feudal connection with France
and established bonds across the Pyrenees
with Aragon
. He was also a major participant in the Crusades
and the Reconquista
.
He was the second son of Centule V of Béarn
by his second wife, Beatrice I of Bigorre. He succeeded his elder brother Bernard III's daughter Beatrice II. His elder half-brother Gaston IV
was the viscount of Béarn and the two maintained excellent fraternal relations, undertaking almost every military expedition jointly.
Between 1095 and 1101, the two half-brother were absent from the south of France on the First Crusade
. While Gaston was one of the heroes of the Crusade and consequently finds mention in many chronicles, Centule had not yet succeeded his brother at that point and was a mere nobleman, without a fief.
In 1113, Bernard died and his successor, the heiress Beatrice, followed him to the grave the next year. Centule, now armed with the forces of Bigorre behind him, joined Gaston in an alliance with Alfonso the Battler
, King of Aragon and Navarre, on the successful expedition against Zaragoza
in 1118. For his part in the victory, Centule received a section of the city in fief of the king and twenty four villages in the Val d'Aran
. He participated in the conquest of Tudela
in 1119 and in the great attack on Granada
in 1125–1126. In May 1122, he rendered homage to Alfonso, breaking his theoretical tie of vassalage to the Duchy of Aquitaine.
Centule died in 1128 and was succeeded by his daughter Beatrice III, who was married to Peter of Marsan. With this marriage she united the county of Bigorre and the viscounty of Marsan
.
Bigorre
Bigorre is region in southwest France, historically an independent county and later a French province, located in the upper watershed of the Adour, on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, part of the larger region known as Gascony...
's feudal connection with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and established bonds across the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
with Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
. He was also a major participant in the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
and the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
.
He was the second son of Centule V of Béarn
Centule V of Béarn
Centule V , called the Young, was the Viscount of Béarn from 1058 to his death. Centule increased the autonomy of the viscounts of Béarn and distanced them from the dukes of Aquitaine, to whom they owed theoretical vassalage...
by his second wife, Beatrice I of Bigorre. He succeeded his elder brother Bernard III's daughter Beatrice II. His elder half-brother Gaston IV
Gaston IV of Béarn
Gaston IV was viscount of Béarn from 1090 to 1131. He was called "le Croisé" due to his participation in the First Crusade....
was the viscount of Béarn and the two maintained excellent fraternal relations, undertaking almost every military expedition jointly.
Between 1095 and 1101, the two half-brother were absent from the south of France on the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
. While Gaston was one of the heroes of the Crusade and consequently finds mention in many chronicles, Centule had not yet succeeded his brother at that point and was a mere nobleman, without a fief.
In 1113, Bernard died and his successor, the heiress Beatrice, followed him to the grave the next year. Centule, now armed with the forces of Bigorre behind him, joined Gaston in an alliance with Alfonso the Battler
Alfonso the Battler
Alfonso I , called the Battler or the Warrior , was the king of Aragon and Navarre from 1104 until his death in 1134. He was the second son of King Sancho Ramírez and successor of his brother Peter I...
, King of Aragon and Navarre, on the successful expedition against Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
in 1118. For his part in the victory, Centule received a section of the city in fief of the king and twenty four villages in the Val d'Aran
Val d'Aran
The Val d'Aran is a valley in the Pyrenees mountains and a comarca in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain. Most of the valley constitutes the only part of Spain, and of Catalonia, on the north face of the Pyrenees, hence the only part of Catalonia whose...
. He participated in the conquest of Tudela
Tudela, Navarre
Tudela is a municipality in Spain, the second city of the autonomous community of Navarre. Its population is around 35,000. Tudela is sited in the Ebro valley. Fast trains running on two-track electrified railways serve the city and two freeways join close to it...
in 1119 and in the great attack on Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
in 1125–1126. In May 1122, he rendered homage to Alfonso, breaking his theoretical tie of vassalage to the Duchy of Aquitaine.
Centule died in 1128 and was succeeded by his daughter Beatrice III, who was married to Peter of Marsan. With this marriage she united the county of Bigorre and the viscounty of Marsan
Marsan
Marsan is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:...
.