County of Empúries


The County of Empúries, also known as the County of Ampurias, was a medieval county centred on the town of Empúries and enclosing the Catalan region of Peralada. It corresponds to the historic comarca of Empordà.
After the Franks conquered the regions in 785, Empúries and Peralada came under the authority of the County of Girona. Around 813, Empúries, with Peralada, became a separate county under Ermenguer. He and the other early counts were probably of Visigothic origin. In 817, Empúries was merged with the County of Roussillon, a union which lasted until 989. One of the ninth-century counts of Empúries assembled a fleet powerful enough to conquer the Balearic Islands, but only for a brief time. From 835 to 844, Sunyer I ruled Empúries and Peralada while Alaric I ruled Roussillon and Vallespir.
At the death of Gausfred I in 989, Roussillon and Empúries were separated. Gausfred's elder son Hugh I received Empúries while Giselbert I received Roussillon. Hugh's comital dynasty lasted until 1322, when Empúries passed to a collateral branch of his family.

The last count, Hugh VI, sold the county to Peter IV of Ribagorza in 1325 in exchange for the barony of Pego and the towns of Xaló and Laguar, all located within the Kingdom of Valencia. Peter later traded it with his brother Ramon Berenguer for the county of Prades in 1341. From that point on, Empúries was an apanage of the Crown of Aragon.
In a letter of December 1002, Pope Sylvester II confirmed the county of Empúries and the "county of Pedralbes" as a part of the diocese of Girona. The latter is probably to be identified with the Peralada region in the north of Empúries. A portion of the "taxes of the port", consisting of dues and anchorage, were passed on to the diocese.

List of counts

  • Ermenguer 813–817
  • Gaucelm 817–832
  • Berengar the Wise 832–835
  • Sunyer I 835–841
  • 841–844
  • Sunyer I 844–848, again
  • William 848–850
  • Odalric 852–858
  • Humfrid 858–862
  • Sunyer II 862–915
  • Dela 862–894, associated
  • Gausbert 915–931
  • Bencion 915–916, associated
  • Gausfred I 931–989
  • Hugh I 989/91–1040
  • 1040–1078
  • Hugh II 1078–1116
  • 1116–1154, also as Ponç Hug I
  • 1154–1173
  • 1173–1200
  • 1173–1175, associated, also known as Ponç Hug d'Entença
  • 1200–1230
  • 1230–1269, also as Ponç Hug III
  • 1269–1277
  • Ponç V 1277–1313, also as Ponç Hug IV
  • 1313–1322, also as Ponç Hug V Malgauli
  • 1322–1327
  • 1322–1325
  • Peter I 1325–1341
  • 1341–1364
  • 1364–1386, 1387–1398
  • Peter II 1386–1387, also king of Aragon
  • 1398–1401
  • 1401–1402, no issue
  • 1402, his wife
  • Martin 1402, 1407–1410, also king of Aragon
  • Maria de Luna 1402–1407, queen consort of Aragon
  • Henry I 1436–1445
  • Henry II 1445–1522, also Duke of Segorbe
  • Alfons I 1522–1563
  • Francesc I 1563–1572
  • Joana II 1572–1608
  • Enric III 1608–1640
  • Lluís 1640–1670
  • Joaquim 1670, died aged 3.
  • Pere IV 1670–1690
  • Caterina 1690–1697
  • Luis Francisco de la Cerda 1697–1711
  • Nicolás Fernández de Córdoba-Figueroa de la Cerda 1711-1739
  • Luis Antonio Fernández de Córdoba-Figueroa y Spinola 1739-1768
  • Pedro de Alcántara Fernández de Córdoba-Figueroa y de Montcada 1768-1789
  • Luis María Fernández de Córdoba y Gonzaga 1789-1806
  • Luis Joaquin Fernández de Córdoba y Benavides 1806-1840
  • Luis Tomás Fernández de Córdoba y Ponce de León 1840-1873
  • Luis María Fernández de Córdoba y Pérez de Barradas 1873-1879
  • Luis Jesús María Fernandez de Cordoba y Salabert 1880-1956
  • María Victoria Eugenia Fernandez de Cordoba y Fernández de Henestrosa 1956-1987
  • Ignacio de Medina y Fernández de Córdoba 1987-2006
  • Sol María de La Blanca de Medina Orléans Bragança 2006–