Catalonian Ruler. Born the son of Sunifred of Ugrell, in about 870 he was appointed Count of Urgell and Cerdanya, and then was granted Barcelona, Girona, and Besalú in 878 by the Carolinginan king of France, whose dynasty was then failing in authority. The count's territory stretched from the Pyranees to the coast, the first time in a generation that those areas had been united politically, and the land had largely been depopulated due to civil strife. He undertook repopulating these territories with immigrants from more heavily populated regions. He married Gunhilde de Flandre, and with her had at least three children. Under his reign the church in his lands flourished, gaining power and privilege. He and his countess founded two abbeys; Santa María de Ripoll in 880 and Saint Joan de la Abadesses in 885. During the growth and expansion of his holdings, his Moorish neighbor fortified Lleida as a response. The count, in turn, attacked the stronghold and was routed, his troops slaughtered. The Moors counterattacked Barcelona some two years later, and the count was said to have died in defense of his city, and was succeeded by his sons. He founded a dynasty that lasted for almost 500 years and kept Barcelona and Catalonia linked to Europe while the rest of Spain remained Moorish until the Reconquista. He is also known as Wilfred the Hairy.
Catalonian Ruler. Born the son of Sunifred of Ugrell, in about 870 he was appointed Count of Urgell and Cerdanya, and then was granted Barcelona, Girona, and Besalú in 878 by the Carolinginan king of France, whose dynasty was then failing in authority. The count's territory stretched from the Pyranees to the coast, the first time in a generation that those areas had been united politically, and the land had largely been depopulated due to civil strife. He undertook repopulating these territories with immigrants from more heavily populated regions. He married Gunhilde de Flandre, and with her had at least three children. Under his reign the church in his lands flourished, gaining power and privilege. He and his countess founded two abbeys; Santa María de Ripoll in 880 and Saint Joan de la Abadesses in 885. During the growth and expansion of his holdings, his Moorish neighbor fortified Lleida as a response. The count, in turn, attacked the stronghold and was routed, his troops slaughtered. The Moors counterattacked Barcelona some two years later, and the count was said to have died in defense of his city, and was succeeded by his sons. He founded a dynasty that lasted for almost 500 years and kept Barcelona and Catalonia linked to Europe while the rest of Spain remained Moorish until the Reconquista. He is also known as Wilfred the Hairy.
Bio by: Iola
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