Peter II, Viscount of Béarn

Who was Peter II, Viscount of Béarn?

Peter II was the Viscount of Béarn from 1134 to his death. He was also the viscount of Gabardan, Brulhois, and Gabarret.

Son of Peter II of Gabarret and Guiscarda of Béarn, he received the vicecomital title after the death of his maternal uncle Centule VI. While he was a minor, his regency was exercised by his maternal grandmother Talesa of Aragon. His mother continued the regency until 1047.

Married to a Catalan princess, he participated in the "crusade" of 1148 organised by Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona. In this he followed the illustrious tradition of his family in aiding the Aragonese monarchs against the Moors in Spain. The 1148 campaign was a success, culminating in the conquest of Tortosa, Lleida, and Fraga. That final conquest has symbolic significance for the Bearnese, as Centule VI had died at Fraga's walls. For this, Peter requested and obtained the exchange of his title "Lord of Huesca" for "Lord of Fraga."

Peter also promoted the Way of Saint James and, contrary to his grandfather Gaston IV, established hospitals along the route through the pass of Roncesvalles and not that of Somport.