Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona

Ramon Berenguer II
Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer II
Spouse(s)	Mahalta of Apulia
Issue Ramon Berenguer III
Noble family	Barcelona
Father	Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona
Mother	Almodis de La Marche
Born	c. 1053
Died	6 December 1082 Sant Feliu de Buixalleu
Signature

Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes^[1][2] (1053 or 1054 – December 5, 1082) was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death. He ruled jointly with his twin brother, Berenguer Ramon II. The Chronicle of San Juan de la Pena called him, ". . . exceeding brave and bold, kind, pleasant, pious, joyful, generous, and of an attractive appearance. Because of the extremely thick hair he had on top of his head, he was known as Cap d'Estop."

He succeeded his father, Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona, as co-ruler with his twin brother, Berenguer Ramon, in 1075.

The twins failed to agree and divided their possessions between them, against the will of their late father. Ramon Berenguer the Towhead, so called because of the thickness and colour of his hair, was killed while hunting in the woods in 1082. His brother, who went on to become the sole ruler of Catalonia, was credited by popular opinion of having orchestrated this murder. Berenguer Ramon the Fratricide was later succeeded by Ramon Berenguer's son, Ramon Berenguer III.

Family and issue

Ramon Berenguer married to Mahalta (or Maud) of Apulia, born ca. 1059, died 1111/1112, daughter of Duke Robert Guiscard and of Sikelgaita de Salerno. Following his murder, she remarried to Aimery I of Narbonne, and was the mother of his son Aimery II.

Ramon Berenguer and Mahalta's son, Ramon Berenguer III (before 1082-1131), was count of Barcelona and Provence

References