On This Day

Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona is assassinated

Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes (1053 or 1054 – December 5, 1082) was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death.

Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes (1053 or 1054 – December 5, 1082) was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death. He was the son of Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona, and Almodis de La Marche. The Chronicle of San Juan de la Pena called him, "… exceeding brave and bold, kind, pleasant, pious, joyful, generous, and of an attractive appearance". Because of the extremely thick hair he had on top of his head, he was known as Cap d'Estop."

He succeeded his father as co-ruler with his twin brother, Berenguer Ramon II in 1075. The twins failed to agree and divided their possessions between them, against the will of their late father. Ramon Berenguer the Towhead, so called because of the thickness and colour of his hair, was killed while hunting in the woods in 1082.

Historical Significance

Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes (1053 or 1054 – December 5, 1082) was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death.

Events Before

  1. Persian polymath Omar Khayyam completes the Jalali calendar, a solar calendar with a precise 33-year intercalation cycle

    Persian polymath Omar Khayyam completes the Jalali calendar, a solar calendar with a precise 33-year intercalation cycle and the basis for the Persian calendar still in use today

  2. Wibbert of Ravenna chosen as anti-pope Clement III

    Wibbert of Ravenna chosen as anti-pope Clement III

  3. Alexios I Komnenos is crowned Byzantine emperor

    Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus, was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118.

  4. Battle of Dyrrhachium: Southern Italian Normans under Robert Guiscard defeat Byzantine army under Alexios I Komnenos (mo

    Battle of Dyrrhachium: Southern Italian Normans under Robert Guiscard defeat Byzantine army under Alexios I Komnenos (modern Durrës, Albania)

  5. Emperor Henry V is born

    Emperor Henry V is born

Events After

  1. Anti-pope Clement crowns German King Hendrik IV as Holy Roman Emperor

    Anti-pope Clement crowns German King Hendrik IV as Holy Roman Emperor

  2. Alfonso VI of León and Castile captures the Muslim taifa of Toledo

    Alfonso VI of León and Castile captures the Muslim taifa of Toledo

  3. San Marcos ministry in Venice initiated

    San Marcos ministry in Venice initiated

  4. Results of the Domesday inquiry are presented to William the Conqueror in Salisbury (the date of compilation and the Gre

    Results of the Domesday inquiry are presented to William the Conqueror in Salisbury (the date of compilation and the Great Domesday are historically contestable)

  5. Abbott Dauferio/Desiderius becomes Pope Victor III

    Abbott Dauferio/Desiderius becomes Pope Victor III

More from the 1080s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 5, 1082?
Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes (1053 or 1054 – December 5, 1082) was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death. He was the son of Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona, and Almodis de La Marche. The Chronicle of San Juan de la Pena called him, "… exceeding brave and bold, kind, pleasant, pious, joyful, generous, and of an attractive appearance".
Why is Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona is assassinated significant?
Ramon Berenguer II the Towhead or Cap de estopes (1053 or 1054 – December 5, 1082) was Count of Barcelona from 1076 until his death.

Explore More