Bernard (Comminges) de Comminges (abt. 1095 - aft. 1145)

Born about 1095 in Comté de Comminges, France

Ancestors

Husband of Dias (Samatan) de Samatan et de Muret — married about 1115 in Comté de Comminges, France

Descendants

Died after 1145 after about age 50 in Saint-Gaudens, Comté de Comminges, France

Biography

Bernard I Comminges was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Bernard (later Bernard I, Comte de Comminges) and his wife Dias de Samatan et de Muret were likely born by about 1095 (1090-1100), based on their daughter Bernarde's marriage contract of 26 April 1139 (see below). ^{[1] [2]}

Marriage of Daughter to the Vicomte de Béziers

Their daughter Bernarde de Comminges married Roger Trencavel, Vicomte d'Albi, de Béziers, et de Carcassonne by contract of 26 April 1139. ^{[1] [3] [4]}

Their daughter's marriage contract of 1139 refers to property being given by Bernarde's parents (Bernard and Dias) with their three sons (Bernard, Roger and Dodo de Samatano) to Bernarde and her spouse, Roger of Béziers (historically called Baeterrae in Latin): ^[4]

Ego Bern. de Comenge, et uxor mea Dias, et filii nostri Bernardus de Comenge, et Rogerius, et Dodo de Samatano donatores sumus tibi Bernardae filiae nostrae, et viro tuo Rogerio de Bitterri.

Estates

The estate of Samatan, associated with Dias de Samatan and with her son Dodo(n) dit de Samatan (who became Bernard III), was an ancient fief of the Comté de Comminges, the town now being Samatan in Gers. There is also a town of Muret in Haute-Garonne to the east of Samatan. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

The 1139 marriage contract also refers to Godefroi de Murello (Godafredus de Murello), considered to be Godefroi de Samatan, the father of Dias - and his father Petrus-Raymondi - in connection with the properties of Samatan (Samatanus), as well as the tower and castle of Murello (turrem et castellum de Murello). ^[4] The Castrum Murelli (Castle of Murello) at Muret was constructed in the 8th century. ^[8]

Family

In addition to Bernard and Dias' daughter, Bernarde, and three sons referred to in connection with Bernarde's marriage in 1139 - the couple are reported to have had four additional sons together: ^[1]

1. Bernard II, Comte de Comminges, who succeeded his father but had died by 1153
2. Roger de Comminges, who died by 1155 (likely before 1153, since his younger brother succeeded Bernard II in 1153)
3. Dodon dit "de Samatan", later Bernard III, Comte de Comminges, who succeeded as Comte de Comminges upon the death of his elder brother
4. Bernarde de Comminges, who married Roger Trencavel, Vicomte d'Albi, de Béziers, et de Carcassonne on 26 Apr 1139
5. Guy, who married Bertrande d'Aure, daughter and heiress of Arnaud III, Vicomte d'Aure
6. Godefroi
7. Arnaud Roger
8. Fortaner, who died after 1163

Succession

Bernard I de Comminges was killed in battle at Saint-Gaudens in the Comté de Comminges (currently in the Département de la Haute-Garonne), dying sometime after 1145. His son, Bernard II de Comminges, died by 1153 and was succeeded by Dodon dit de Samatan, who adopted the name of Bernard and held title as Bernard III, Comte de Comminges.

Research Notes

1. Parents of Bernard

The father of Bernard might have been Roger III, Comte de Comminges, who died after 1114, but the reference cited by Cawley (Père Anselme, Tome II, p 630) apparently did not provide primary sources. ^[1]

2. Estimated Dates

Bernard and Dias' daughter Bernarde is assumed to have been born by about 1120 based on her marriage in 1139 - and with apparently three elder brothers, her parents are assumed to have married by about 1115 and to have likely been born by about 1095 (1090-1100). ^[1]

3. Estates and Maternal Lineage

The estate of Samatan is generally associated with Dias and is also referred to in connection with her son Dodo(n) dit de Samatan(o), who became Bernard III. Cawley indicates that Dias was the daughter and heiress of Godefroi Seigneur de Samatan et de Muret. The towns of Samatan and Muret are both southwest of Toulouse, and both estates were historically fiefs of the Comté de Comminges. ^[1]

The castle of Murello (Castum Murelli), associated with the father and grandfather of Dias, was established at Muret by the 8th century. ^[8]

Documents related to the divorce of King Pedro II of Aragón and Marie de Montpellier indicate that Bernard IV, Comte de Comminges, the son of Bernard III, Comte de Comminges, was descended in the maternal line from the Comtes de Bourgogne (Burgundy). ^[1]

While the paternal grandmother of Bernard IV would be Dias de Samatan, it is also possible that the maternal line connection to the Comtes de Bourgogne was through his maternal grandmother, who was the wife or mistress of Alphonse Jourdain, Comte de Toulouse, Duc de Narbonne and Marquis de Provence.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2024: Comtes de Comminges. (See also WikiTree's source page for MedLands)
2. ↑ Wikipédia - Bernard I de Comminges
3. ↑ Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2024: Vicomtes de Béziers. (See also WikiTree's source page for MedLands)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Devic, Claude. Histoire Générale de Languedoc, Avec des Notes & les Pièces justicatives (chez Jacques Vincent, Paris, 1742) Tome IV, Preuves, CVI, p. 429. Available online at: Histoire Générale de Languedoc (1742) - CVI. Contract de mariage entre Roger vicomte de Carcassonne et Bernarde de Comminges. Ann. 1039
5. ↑ Wikipédia - Samatan
6. ↑ Wikipédia - Muret
7. ↑ Wikipédia - Comté de Comminges
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Mémoires de la Société nationale des antiquaires de France, Volume 50 (1889), page 45.