Petronilla, Countess of Bigorre

Petronilla of Bigorre or Petronilla of Comminges (c. 1184 – 1251) was the only child of Bernhard IV, Count of Comminges and his wife Stephanie-Beatrice IV, Countess of Bigorre. Petronilla succeeded her mother in 1194 as Countess of Bigorre, she was also Viscountess of Marsan and Nébouzan through further successions. She reigned as countess for fifty-seven years, in which time she was married five times.

Petronilla was born around 1184 as the only child of her parents, therefore she was their heir. As a child Petronilla was at the centre of political plans; first conducted by her father who acted as regent after the death of Stephanie-Beatrice. However, Petronilla's guardianship was soon handed over to Alfonso II of Aragon; who had Petronilla betrothed and married to one of his allies Gaston VI, Viscount of Béarn in early 1196. Gaston ruled jointly with Petronilla over Bigorre. The couple remained childless, Gaston participated in the forty-five year Albigensian Crusade, a time in which he lost favour; he was excommunicated by the Council of Vabres and his territories declared forfeit by the pope.

Petronilla's husband Gaston died in 1214 leaving her a childless widow around aged thirty. The following year, Petronilla was married to Nuño Sánchez, a grandson of Petronilla of Aragon however, the marriage was annulled by Pope Honorius III the very next year in 1216. The leader of the on-going crusade, Simon IV de Montfort, who was at that time at the height of his power, he had Petronilla in 1216 married with his own son Guy. The power of the Monfort family began to decline during the Albigensian Crusade, there was opposition by the local nobility in 1218, Simon de Montfort was killed at Toulouse and Guy himself was killed in 1220 when taking Castelnaudary. Petronilla was left with two daughters by this marriage.