Artau I, Count of Pallars Sobirà

Who was Artau I, Count of Pallars Sobirà?

Artau I was the Count of Pallars Sobirà from 1049 until his death in or around 1081. His reign was characterised by ceaseless wars and litigations with his more powerful cousin and neighbour Raymond IV of Pallars Jussà.

Artau was the second son of William II of Pallars Sobirà and his wife Stephanie, a daughter of Ermengol I of Urgell and Tetberga, who was related to either the Counts of Provence or Forez. His father died in 1035 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Bernard II. When he died in 1049, Artau became count. Artau married twice. His first wife, married before September 1050, was Constance, whose parents are unknown. Artrau took his second wife, Lucia, on 27 January 1057. She was a daughter of Bernard I of La Marche and thus a sister of Almodis, the wife of Raymond Berengar I of Barcelona. In February 1058, perhaps on the occasion of the actual marriage, Artau granted control of two castles to the count of Barcelona and four to his new wife on top of her dowry. She bore him three sons: Artau II, his eldest son and heir; Ot, who became Bishop of Urgell; and William. She may have born Artau a daughter named Maria.