Douce of Gévaudan
Overview
Biography
(See also Genealogical Table(s): 3, 6.)Douce/Dulcia was the daughter of Gilbert/Gerbert I of Gévaudan and Millau and Gerberga of Provence. Gerberga had inherited Provence from her mother Douce/Etiennette (who had governed it after the death of her brother, Bertrand) and Gerberga passed it on to her daughter. Douce also inherited Millau, Gévaudan, Rouergue and part of Carlad from her father (HGL 3.471-72, bk 15, ch 48 and 610-12, bk 16, ch34). Douce brought this sizeable inheritance to her marriage with Raymond/Ramon Berenguer III, count of Barcelona in 1112 and donated her rights to him in the next year, but without surrendering her own: “I give it over into your power altogether so that you may have it freely and without any diminution with me, as long as I live” LFM 2.347, #877. Adam Kosto notes that more than ninety Provençal nobles, representing “the submission of … many of the most important lineages of the region,” swore an oath to Raymond Berenguer III after Douce made the donation (Making Agreements in Medieval Catalonia [Cambridge University, 2001], 258). Raymond had previously been married to a daughter of El Cid, Maria Rodriguez, with whom he had two daughters, who married the counts of Besalú and Foix (see Henry John Chaytor, A History of Aragon and Catalonia (London: Methuen, 1933), chapter 3. Douce had one sibling, a younger sister, Etiennette/Stephanie, who married Raymond de Baux; she inherited some lands in Provence which would be called the terres Baucenques. Well after the deaths of Douce and her husband, Raymond de Baux laid claim to half the county of Provence, with the support of Alphonse, count of Toulouse, causing the “Baussenque Wars,” beginning in 1144. Douce and Raymond Berenguer had three sons and two daughters: Ramon/Raymond Berenguer IV (+1162), count of Barcelona; Berenguer Ramon (+1144), count of Provence; the third, Bernard, died young; Berenguela (+1149) married Alfonso VII of Castile; and Almodis, married Ponce de Cervera, viscount of Bas.
Many documents show that Douce acted with her husband, even when they are not written in her name, cf. the mention of Douce acting with him to restore certain rights to Berengar Raymond of Castelet and her sign on the document of agreement right after her husband’s: “Postmodum, ipse comes cum uxore sua Dulcia comitissa dedit predicto Berengario totos usaticos novos quod ipse comes constituerat in Barchinona” (LFM 1.400, #382). Oaths were taken to both, many of which are translated here, but since they tend to follow the same patterns, I have only summarized some of them:
LFM 2.72, #560, dated 1117-31. Shorter oath by Dalmatius Bernardi, son of the woman Leggardis, to Raymond Berenguer and Douce for the castros of Madrona and Catserras and Montfalcho.
LFM 2.123-24, #615, dated 1117-31. Shorter oath of Berengarius Bernardi, son of the woman Legardis to RB and D for the castros of Miralies and Cheralt.
LFM 2.175, #665, 16 October, 1118. Shorter oath taken by Bernard Berengarii, son of Constance, to RB and D for the castros of Paracols and of Monte Albano. Unusual in having a specific date.
LFM 2.183-84, #673, 1117-31. Oath taken by Udalgarius, son of William Petri and Matellis, to RB and D for Fonolieto and St. Stephen, swearing to the same provisions as in #672.
LFM 2.185-86, #674, 1117-31. Oath of Udalgarius for St. Stephen; the period allowed for taking a new oath to RB’s successor is 30 days after RB’s death.
LFM 2.349, #880, dated 1113. Shorter oath taken by Peter Lombardi and Ripert of Sedena for the castros of Bredies and Belfort and Saleta. Sworn “by God and this holy Gospel.”
Letters from Douce of Gévaudan
A letter to Alphonse of Toulouse (1125, September 15)A letter to Artall Petri (1115, January 18.)
A letter to Garin (1126)
A letter to Raymond Berenguer III (1113, January 13)
Letters to Douce of Gévaudan
A letter from Artall Petri, Bernard Petri, and Raymond PetriA letter from Bernard Arnal of Alon
A letter from Dalmacius
A letter from Gaucefred
A letter from Gaucerand
A letter from Gerberga
A letter from Gerberga
A letter from Jordan
A letter from Pons of Foz
A letter from Raymond Gauzbert
A letter from Raymond William of Pruians
A letter from William Bertrandi
A letter from William Gaucefred
A letter from William of Romoles
A letter from William Petri and Matellis
A letter from William Raymond
A letter to and from Alphone of Toulouse and Faidida
A letter to and from Artall Petri and Bernard Petri
A letter to Douce