Consideracions sobre el Patrimoni dels Ordes Militars a Catalunya en temps de Ramon Berenguer IV

Abstract

The patrimony and prominence of templars and hospitallers increased dramatically in the time of count Ramon Berenguer IV. Feudal lords made their first donations before 1134 and there were considerable increases from that year until 1148. During this period, these orders settled in central Catalonia, where they attracted or forced donations pro anima to assure their jurisdictional and, especially, their patrimonial rights. The count's support in this was crucial although initially it was merely an attempt to find favour, particularly with the templars. Following the testamentary agreements, the count's interests coincided with those of the orders and this positioned them at the vanguard of the country from 1148 onwards. In this period, the orders consolidated their position in the principality and the count granted them the large territories of Catalunya Nova, from where the knights increased their patrimony by accumulating more land. The interests, strategies and actions of the feudal authorities placed important new domains in the hands of the templars and hospitallers who, because of the very nature of their orders, were in fact ideal for reorganizing both the lands and peoples recently brought under feudal control.