Mir Geribert
Encyclopedia
Mir Geribert was a Catalan
nobleman, rebel against the Count of Barcelona for almost two decades (1040–1059), and self-declared "Prince of Olèrdola
". His revolt was merely the longest and most severe of what was then endemic to Catalonia
: private feudal warfare, which was theoretically restricted by the Peace and Truce of God
, and disavowal of comital prerogatives by the castellan
s who nominally owed their positions to the count.
Mir Geribert was related to both the counts and viscounts of Barcelona, being a son of viscount Geribert II and Ermengard, daughter of Count Borrel II
. His powerbase lay in the Penedès
, where he had many castles, chief among them Olèrdola. Despite his wide-ranging possessions in that region, he had been marginalised as a member of a cadet branch of the vicecomital dynasty and was unwilling to accept his second-tier position within the Penedès or his exclusion from the familial possessions in La Guàrdia
and Barcelona. He refused to accept a wife of any other than the comital dynasty of the Bellonids and insisted on placing himself on equal footing with his relatives of the main vicecomital branch, which ambition led to violent confrontations.
These conflicts were not, however, with his relatives, such as his cousin the viscount Udalard II or his uncle the bishop Guisalbert, but with the count, Raymond Berengar I
, who refused to grant him a bride from his own family. Though both Udalard and Guisalbert got into a war with the count at this same moment, it was not related directly to Mir's rebellion.
In 1039, Mir's brother, Folc Geribert, granted the castle of Ribes
near Olèrdola to their uncle the bishop. Thus deprived of any control over an important frontier fortress, Mir negotiated for the return of the castle in 1041, when he received it back from the bishop in return from swearing homage.
At some point in his battle with Raymond Berengar, Mir assumed the title princeps Olerdulae, which implied independent authority. Raymond Berengar countered by claiming princely authority in his marches. After Mir lost a claim against the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès
, he openly defied the court and the Visigothic law.
In 1052 or 1053 a tribunal presided over by the seneschal
Amat Eldric condemned Mir Geribert. In response to this, Mir devastated the lands of the seneschal and of Raymond of Cerdanya, who had made peace with the count. Already before 1052 Renard Guillem, the younger brother of the count of Cerdanya, had been treated disgracefully (with mala et onta) by Mir Geribert while on a mission for the count of Barcelona.
In 1059 Mir Geribert and his followers made their final submission to the count, relinquishing his disputed rights in the Penedès and Ausona. He and his wife Guisla promised to make their eldest sons, Bernat and Arnau, renounce the family's claims to the disputed castles and honores when they attained their majority, to make their younger sons sign the charter donating Castell de Port to the count, and to extract oaths of fidelity from their sons in accordance with their own oaths.
Mir Geribert died at Tortosa
in 1060.
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
nobleman, rebel against the Count of Barcelona for almost two decades (1040–1059), and self-declared "Prince of Olèrdola
Olèrdola
Olèrdola is a municipality in the comarca of the Alt Penedès in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the northern side of the Garraf massif, and the highest point of the municipality is the Puig de l'Àliga at 468 m....
". His revolt was merely the longest and most severe of what was then endemic to Catalonia
Principality of Catalonia
The Principality of Catalonia , is a historic territory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, mostly in Spain and with an adjoining portion in southern France....
: private feudal warfare, which was theoretically restricted by the Peace and Truce of God
Peace and Truce of God
The Peace and Truce of God was a medieval European movement of the Catholic Church that applied spiritual sanctions in order to limit the violence of private war in feudal society. The movement constituted the first organized attempt to control civil society in medieval Europe through non-violent...
, and disavowal of comital prerogatives by the castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
s who nominally owed their positions to the count.
Mir Geribert was related to both the counts and viscounts of Barcelona, being a son of viscount Geribert II and Ermengard, daughter of Count Borrel II
Borrell II, Count of Barcelona
Borrell II was Count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 945 and Count of Urgell from 948.Borrell is first seen acting as count during the reign of his father Marquis Sunyer in 945 at the consecration of the nunnery church of Sant Pere de les Puelles in Barcelona, and succeeded Sunyer along with...
. His powerbase lay in the Penedès
Penedès
Penedès is a natural and historical region of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the south of the Principality of Catalonia between the pre-coastal mountain range and the Mediterranean sea...
, where he had many castles, chief among them Olèrdola. Despite his wide-ranging possessions in that region, he had been marginalised as a member of a cadet branch of the vicecomital dynasty and was unwilling to accept his second-tier position within the Penedès or his exclusion from the familial possessions in La Guàrdia
La Guardia, Spain
La Guardia is a Spanish village in Toledo province. There is documented presence since Bronze Age, Romans, Jews and documents since 12th century.-Population:*2.329 inhabitants 2006.*1166 men and 1163 women....
and Barcelona. He refused to accept a wife of any other than the comital dynasty of the Bellonids and insisted on placing himself on equal footing with his relatives of the main vicecomital branch, which ambition led to violent confrontations.
These conflicts were not, however, with his relatives, such as his cousin the viscount Udalard II or his uncle the bishop Guisalbert, but with the count, Raymond Berengar I
Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer I the Old was Count of Barcelona in 1035–1076. He promulgated the earliest versions of a written code of Catalan law, the Usages of Barcelona....
, who refused to grant him a bride from his own family. Though both Udalard and Guisalbert got into a war with the count at this same moment, it was not related directly to Mir's rebellion.
In 1039, Mir's brother, Folc Geribert, granted the castle of Ribes
Ribes
Ribes is a genus of about 150 species of flowering plants native throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is usually treated as the only genus in the family Grossulariaceae. Seven subgenera are recognized....
near Olèrdola to their uncle the bishop. Thus deprived of any control over an important frontier fortress, Mir negotiated for the return of the castle in 1041, when he received it back from the bishop in return from swearing homage.
At some point in his battle with Raymond Berengar, Mir assumed the title princeps Olerdulae, which implied independent authority. Raymond Berengar countered by claiming princely authority in his marches. After Mir lost a claim against the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès
Sant Cugat del Vallès
Sant Cugat del Vallès is a town and municipality north of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. In antiquity known as Castrum Octavianum, it is named after Saint Cucuphas, who is said to have been martyred on the spot now occupied by its medieval monastery.Sant Cugat has seen its population increase in...
, he openly defied the court and the Visigothic law.
In 1052 or 1053 a tribunal presided over by the seneschal
Seneschal
A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. In the French administrative system of the Middle Ages, the sénéchal was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration in southern provinces, equivalent to the northern French bailli...
Amat Eldric condemned Mir Geribert. In response to this, Mir devastated the lands of the seneschal and of Raymond of Cerdanya, who had made peace with the count. Already before 1052 Renard Guillem, the younger brother of the count of Cerdanya, had been treated disgracefully (with mala et onta) by Mir Geribert while on a mission for the count of Barcelona.
In 1059 Mir Geribert and his followers made their final submission to the count, relinquishing his disputed rights in the Penedès and Ausona. He and his wife Guisla promised to make their eldest sons, Bernat and Arnau, renounce the family's claims to the disputed castles and honores when they attained their majority, to make their younger sons sign the charter donating Castell de Port to the count, and to extract oaths of fidelity from their sons in accordance with their own oaths.
Mir Geribert died at Tortosa
Tortosa
-External links:* *** * * *...
in 1060.