Peter, seventh count of Albarracin
| Peter | |
|---|---|
| Count of Albarracin Baron of Cerdanya | |
| Predecessor | William |
| Successor | William |
| Born | 1085 Kingdom of Aragon |
| Died | 6 July 1111 (aged 26) Tarragona, Kingdom of Aragon |
| Noble family | Cerdanya Vieja |
| Spouse(s) | Teresa de Barbastro |
| Issue
William | |
| Father | William, fifth count of Albarracin |
| Mother | Elisenda |
Peter de Cerdanya (Catalan: Pere; 1085 - 6 July 1111) was an Aragonese nobleman and rebel against the rule of the Barcelona dynasty. He was executed for his role in the dynastic civil war of 1109-11.
Life
Peter was born in 1085, the second son and third child of William, baron of Cerdanya. The Cerdanya dynasty had very recently come into disgrace, with the execution of Peter's uncle and his father's surrender to a royal army. Peter displayed a special prowess in martial arts during his youth; according to one contemporary, he was "very strong and mighty, above most sons of men." In 1104 or 1105 he married Teresa de Barbastro, a sister of William, count of Valencia.
Peter became count of Albarracin after the death of his childless elder brother William in April 1108. He renewed his brother's favor to their uncle William Raymond, reappointing him as steward of Albarracin shortly after succeeding as count. Peter granted a charter to the diocese of Híjar during the Easter holiday, shortly after his brother's death. Peter seems to have served as marshal of Aragon in 1108-09 under King Pere-Ramon, during the king's half-brother's attempt to depose him.
After Pere-Ramon's assassination in August 1109, Peter aligned himself with the enemies of the new regent Ramon-Berenguer, count of Denia. During the winter of 1109-10, the aims of this group coalesced into the overthrow of the young King Anthony and the restoration of the Jimena dynasty. After Ramon-Berenguer's self-coup in April 1110, Peter joined other members of the Aragonese nobility in withdrawing his allegiance from the new king and proclaiming Isabel, queen of León, as queen of Aragon.
Peter fought courageously in the pro-Jimena army at the battle of Cervera on 22 June 1110, which resulted in a key victory for the Barcelona dynasty. Under the leadership of the new king Adalbert, the pro-Barcelona faction managed to effect a rapid improvement in the strategic situation. Peter was forced to retreat to his castle of Albarracin, with the aim of defending his family from the king's army. Adalbert besieged Albarracin in January 1111. Peter's garrison resisted the king for three months, until they were forced to surrender for lack of water. Peter was taken to the castle of Manresa in chains, but brought back to his county to be present at the humiliating surrender of the other rebel noblemen at Teruel on 5 June.
With the coming of the Great Plague, King Adalbert and the royal court fled to Tarragona. Peter was brought to Tarragona behind the royal entourage, dragged in chains by the king's sergeants, according to one near-contemporary account. Convicted of treason, Peter was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tarragona on 6 July 1111, in the presence of the king and many courtiers. In a mark of clemency, Adalbert allowed Peter's infant son William to succeed to his titles.