Gombau de Besora, the lord of El Vallès. From county service to the creation of noble inheritance in post-Carolingian Catalonia

Authors

  • Jaume Vilaginés Segura Societat Catalana d’Estudis Històrics

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2436/20.1001.01.254

Keywords:

Magnate, Catalan counts, fiscal fief, castle barony, patron, medieval justice

Abstract

Gombau de Besora was one of the most outstanding figures of the Catalan counties in the first half of the 11th century. He was one of the primates palatii of the counts of Barcelona Ramon Borrell and Ermessenda and a firm defender of countess Ermessenda during the lengthy period of her governance. As compensation, Gombau received numerous fiscal tenures from his sovereigns that made him a powerful potentate. The largest centre of his tenures were found in El Vallès, around his fiscal fiefs of Montbui and Montornès del Vallès (Palaudalmanla). He was also the patron of the monastery of Sant Miquel del Fai, which he founded and provided with extensive properties. Gombay turned the domains he received from the counts into a large personal patrimony that was inherited by his daughter, Guisla, and his son-in-law, Mir Geribert. Gombau de Besora is a good example of the creation of an extensive personal patrimony, through the disposition of public assets.

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Published

2024-02-09

How to Cite

Vilaginés Segura, J. (2024). Gombau de Besora, the lord of El Vallès. From county service to the creation of noble inheritance in post-Carolingian Catalonia. Butlletí De La Societat Catalana d’Estudis Històrics, (34), 17–75. https://doi.org/10.2436/20.1001.01.254

Issue

No. 34 (2023)

Section

Articles

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