Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Provence
Ramon Berenguer II (Raymond Berengar) (c.
1135 –
1166) was the
count of Provence (sometimes as Ramon Berenguer III) from
1144 to his death. His uncle,
Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, was the
regent until
1157.
In 1144, Ramon's father,
Count Berenguer Ramon, died in an offensive against
Genoa and he inherited the county. He was immediately opposed by the family of
Baus and it took the military action of his uncle, the
count of Barcelona, in
1147 to secure his throne. The war continued with the Baus until the count of Barcelona's death in
1162.
In August of
1161, he had travelled to
Turin with his uncle obtain the confirmation of his countship in Provence from the
Emperor Frederick I, for Provence was legally a fief of the
Holy Roman Empire. There he met
Richeza of Poland, the daughter of the exiled Polish high duke,
Ladislaus II. He married her on
17 November and on the return journey, his uncle died.
He resumed the war with Genoa, but died trying to take
Nice in the spring of 1166. His daughter,
Douce, succeeded him.