The County of Melgueil ( oc, Melguelh, modern Mauguio) was a

fief A fief (; la, feudum) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form ...

of first the

Carolingian Emperor The Carolingian Empire (800–888) was a large Frankish-dominated empire in western and central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, which had ruled as kings of the Franks since 751 and as kings of the Lo ...

, then the King of France, and finally (1085) the

Papacy The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

. Counts probably sat at Melgueil from the time of the

Visigoths The Visigoths (; la, Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, Wisi) were an early Germanic people who, along with the Ostrogoths, constituted the two major political entities of the Goths within the Roman Empire in late antiquity, or what is ...

. The counts of Melgueil were also counts of Maguelonne and Substantion from at least the time of

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

's homage to Pope Gregory VII on 27 April 1085. In 1172 Beatriu disinherited her son Bertrand and named her daughter Ermessenda her heiress. Later that year Ermessenda married the future Raymond VI of Toulouse and by her will of 1176 the county was to go to Toulouse. Bertrand refused to recognise his disinheritance and pledged homage as Count of Melgueil to Alfonso II of Aragon in 1172. The county fell to the Toulouse in 1190 and was annexed to the

French crown France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the firs ...

in 1213, during the Albigensian Crusade. At the Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 it was given to the

Diocese of Maguelonne The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Montpellier (–Lodève–Béziers–Agde–Saint-Pons-de-Thomières) (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Metropolitae Montis Pessulani (–Lotevensis–Biterrensis–Agathensis–Sancti Pontii Thomeriarum)'' ...

and secular and ecclesiastical authority were merged.

List of counts

* Aigulf (''c''. 750) * Amic (???–778), son of Agilulf *

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(778–???) *

Adolf Adolf (also spelt Adolph or Adolphe, Adolfo and when Latinised Adolphus) is a given name used in German-speaking countries, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Flanders, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latin America and to a lesser extent in vari ...

Ernest Ernest is a given name derived from Germanic word ''ernst'', meaning "serious". Notable people and fictional characters with the name include: People * Archduke Ernest of Austria (1553–1595), son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor * Ernest, ...

* Eberard (???–812) *

Bera Bera may refer to: Acronyms * Bioelectric recognition assay, a method in electrophysiology * Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority, an energy regulatory body in Botswana * Brainstem evoked response audiometry, a screening test to monitor for heari ...

(812–820), also Count of Barcelona * Rampo (820–826), also Count of Barcelona *

Bernard of Septimania Bernard (or Bernat) of Septimania (795–844), son of William of Gellone, was the Frankish Duke of Septimania and Count of Barcelona from 826 to 832 and again from 835 to his execution. He was also count of Carcassonne from 837. He was appointe ...

(826–832), also

Margrave of Septimania {{One source, date=December 2021 The title Prince of Gothia (''princeps Gothiæ'') or Prince of the Goths (''princeps Gothorum'') was a title of nobility, sometimes assumed by its holder as a sign of supremacy in the region of Gothia and sometimes ...

* Berengar the Wise (832–835), also

Count of Toulouse The count of Toulouse ( oc, comte de Tolosa, french: comte de Toulouse) was the ruler of Toulouse during the 8th to 13th centuries. Originating as vassals of the Frankish kings, the hereditary counts ruled the city of Toulouse and its surroundin ...

(836–844), also

* Sunifred (844–848), also Count of Barcelona * William of Septimania (848–850), also

* Aleran (850–852), also Count of Barcelona * Isembart (850–852), also Count of Barcelona *

Odalric Ulrich (), is a German given name, derived from Old High German ''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements '' uodal-'' meaning "(noble) heritage" and ''-rich'' meaning "rich, powerful". Attested from the 8th century as the name of A ...

(852–858), also

Humfrid Humfrid was the count of Barcelona, Girona, Empúries, Roussillon, and Narbonne from 858 to 864. He also bore the title margrave of Gothia (''Gothiæ marchio''), as he held several frontier counties.The source for his famous title is the '' Annales ...

(858–864), also Margrave of Gothia *

Bernard of Gothia Bernard II (in Catalan, ''Bernat de Gothia'') was the count of Barcelona, Girona and margrave of Gothia and Septimania from 865 to 878. Origins Bernard was the son of Count Bernard I of Poitiers (814-844) and Bilichilde, daughter of Count Rorgon ...

(865–878), also Margrave of Gothia * Guillermona (''c''.878–920), married to Robert of Magalona * Bernard I (''c''.920–930), son of Guillermona *

Berengar Berengar is a masculine name derived from Germanic roots meaning "bear" and "spear". The name appears frequently among certain noble families during the Middle Ages, especially the Unruochings and those related. Bérenger is the French form, while ...

(''c''.930–950), son of Bernard I * (''c''. 950–988), son of Berengar *N.N. (''c''.988–989), son of Bernard II * (''c''. 989–1055), son of the son of Bernard II * Raymond I (''c''.1055–1079), son of Bernard III *{{Interlanguage link, Peter, Count of Melgueil, Peter, WD=Q3385529 (1079 – after 1085), son of Raymond I * Raymond II (????–1120), son of Peter * Bernard IV (1120–????), son of Raymond II * Beatrice (''c''.1130–''c''.1190), daughter of Bernard IV, under the regency of her cousin William VI of Montpellier * Berengar Raymond (1135–1144), first husband of Beatrice, also

Count of Provence The land of Provence has a history quite separate from that of any of the larger nations of Europe. Its independent existence has its origins in the frontier nature of the dukedom in Merovingian Gaul. In this position, influenced and affected by ...

* Bernard V of Pelet (1146–1172), second husband of Beatrice, also Lord of

Alès Alès (; oc, Alès) is a commune in the Gard department in the Occitanie region in southern France. It is one of the sub-prefectures of the department. It was formerly known as ''Alais''. Geography Alès lies north-northwest of Nîmes, o ...

* Ermessenda (1170-1176), daughter of the previous * Raymond VI (1173-1190), husband of the previous, also

. On the death of Beatrice the county was disputed. In 1172 it was divided. In 1190 it was reunited.

References

* Devic, Claude, and Vaissète, Joseph, ''Histoire générale de Languedoc : Volume I, Toulouse'', édition Privat, 1872 * Emmerson, Richard K., ''Key Figures in Medieval Europe: An Encyclopedia''. Routledge Publishing, New York, 2013
Nobility of Toulouse: Chapter 11. Comtes de Melgueil
at the Medieval Lands Project. French nobility Hérault Carolingian counties