Guillaume II of Béarn

Guillaume-Raymond de Moncade was as from 1224 until its death in 1229 lord of Moncade and Castelviel in Catalogne and as a Guillaume II , Viscount of Béarn, Marsan, Gabardan and Brulhois, becoming then Guillaume Ier de Béarn .

Its political activity was monopolized by the resolution of the problems involved in the catalo-Aragonese nobility, whose families disputed the influence of the young king Jacques Ier d' Aragon. It was devoted in particular to the preparation of the invasion of the Balearic Islands.
At the time of its last visit in Béarn, in February 1228, he promised to the representative of the king of England to lend to him homage for the grounds located in Aquitaine (Béarn, Gabardan, Brulhois and Captieux). This moment marks the exit of Béarn of the Aragonese orbit and the beginning of the progressive tender with Angleterre.
Of return in Catalonia, it supported an aggressive position with the council which was held with Salou, to plan the invasion. In September 1229, the fleet left towards Majorque, Guillaume ordering the first vessel. Once the unloaded troops, they started the battle of Portopi. Guillaume found death there, just like eight knights of his chalk-lining, of which its nephew Raymond.
The tomb of Guillaume II is in the church of the Monastère of Santa-Cruz.

Descent

Of his Garsende wife, girl of Alphonse II, count de Provence and of Garsende de Sabran, countess of Forcalquier, it had two children:

Gaston, which succeeded to him in 1229;
Constance, which married Diego López de Haro III, lord of Biscay.

Internal bonds

List of the Viscounts of Béarn

Sources

Tucoo-Chala, Pierre (1994), When Islam was with the doors of the Pyrenees, Biarritz: J&D Editions. ISBN 2-84127-022-X.

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