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Arnau Mir of Pallars Jussà


Arnau (or Arnal) Mir (died 1174) was the Count of Pallars Jussà from 1124/6 until his death.

The Memoria renovata, which dates to the reign of Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona over the Kingdom of Aragon, contains a genealogy of Arnau Mir. The author of the Memoria was dedicated to justifying the independence of the County of Ribagorza from both Aragon and Navarre and probably saw Arnau Mir as the strongest candidate with connexions to the old line of the counts of Ribagorza who could resist the regional hegemonic powers.

In 1140, when William, Archbishop of Arles, acting as Papal legate, arbitrated the disputed boundary between the dioceses of Roda and Urgell, he did so "with the advice" (cum consilio) of Arnau Mir, who also signed the written agreement (convenientia) as a witness. Among the other magnates consulted for advice on this occasion were the Count of Pallars Sobirà, Artau III, and Arnau's vassal Ramon Pere II d'Erill. Arnau held the city of Fraga as a vassal of Alfonso II of Aragon and Ramon Pere held it from Arnau.

There is a surviving document recording the many disputes between Arnau Mir and Ramon Pere, but the record of their settlement (iuditium) is incomplete. There is also a record of the hostages Ramon posted as sureties. Among the crimes of which Arnau accused Ramon were:

Berenguer de Benevent had placed himself and his fief under the protection/authority/command of Arnau, so that he might act as a surety for Arnau and for Ramon d'Erill if Arnau required it. Arnau issued a special charter of protection for Berenguer, which Ramon broke. On Ramon's advice Arnau had established a fair at Casteglo (perhaps Castelló d'Encús), but Ramon proceeded to establish a competing fair in his own territory and forbade his own men from attending Arnau's fair. When Arnau was going to confiscate Ramon's fief of Val d'Aran, the latter sent Ramon de Valsegne as a pledge to the count for the 1,000 solidi he owed. The latter Ramon was invested with Aran, but Ramon d'Erill took it from him and the "damage" to Arnau was 990 solidi.


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