Cecilia of Provence
Overview
Biography
(See also Genealogical Table(s): 6.)
Cecilia of Provence was the daughter of Bertrand II of Provence and Alemburg (mentioned in documents but not otherwise identified). In 1083, Cecilia married Bernard Ato IV, of Béziers, Carcassone, Nîmes, son of Raymond Bernard of Nîmes and Ermengard of Carcassonne. The dower Bertrand was to pay to Ermengard was 5000 solidos, 2000 in silver, 1000 in steer and cows, 2000 in horses and mules in five years from the feast of St. Michael and at the time of the marriage, ten hostages (ostaticos) of her choice (5.682-83, #356). Cecilia and Bernard had three sons, Roger I, Raymond Trencavel, and Bernard Ato V, and several daughters, Ermengard (also called Trencavel), who married Gausfred or Gauzbert of Roussillon, Ermessind, who married Rostaing of Posquières, Matheline, who married Guillaume Alfaric of Béziers, Pagane, mentioned in her father’s last will in which he asks his son Roger to arrange her marriage with the advice of Cecilia and the barons. Cecilia participates in many of her husband’s charters of donations, legal settlements, peace treaties, during his life. In a will made in 1118 when he went to fight in Spain, he leaves her all his possessions for as long as she lives or wishes to hold them (dono atque concedo uxori meae Caeciliae totum honorem meum ubicumque illum habeo, quamdiu ipsa vixerit vel quamdiu tenere voluerit, ut teneat & possideat illum, HGL 5.866, #462), afterwards to be divided between her two older sons (a later will included the third son); if she preferred to live separate from them, she would hold Béziers, Agde, Nîmes, Termenois, the chateau of Cessenon, everything between the rivers of Agout and Tore and the village of Burlas. Bernard Ato died in 1130, and Cecilia established her residence in Cessenon from which she administered her domains, and apparently her sons’, as established by the will of 1118. She and her sons participate in various charters and acts: oaths of fidelity were taken to her and to them, homage was paid; together they made various arrangements with bishops, and viscounts, confirmed and made donations, made alliances. The last mention of her is in 1147, permission she and her sons grant to canons of the cathedral of Béziers. She was dead by 1150, when her son Roger made a donation for the souls of his father and mother.1
Letters from Cecilia of Provence
A letter to Arnald Pelapol (1125, January 12)A letter to Bernard Amato (1134, April 6)
A letter to Bernard of Tresmals (1126, March 4)
A letter to Bremund, bishop of Béziers (1131)
A letter to Ermengald of Feberano (c.1124)
A letter to Gausfred of Roussillon (1110, May 11)
A letter to Loup and Bernard of Béziers (1114, June 2)
A letter to Peter of Laurano (1126, April 5)
A letter to Public (1097, December 29)
A letter to Rainon of Caylar (1118)
A letter to Rostaing of Posquieres (1121)
A letter to Willerm of Minerve (1127, March 7)
A letter to William of Durban (1123, May 5)
Letters to Cecilia of Provence
A letter from Abbot Bernard of CastresA letter from Arnald of Laurano
A letter from Aymeri and Ermengard of Narbonne
A letter from Bernard Amato
A letter from Bernard of Canet
A letter from Ermengald and William of Feberano
A letter from Froter of Senegas
A letter from Isarnus of Cessenon
A letter from Laureta of Ornaisons
A letter from Raymond and Hugo
A letter from Raymond Rogeri
A letter from Raymond, son of Blanche
A letter from Roger, count of Foix
A letter from Roger, count of Foix
A letter from Roland of Bisan
A letter from Ug de Sexac
A letter from Wilherm of Minerve
A letter from William of Margo
A letter from William Raymond of Termes