RAMON BERENGUER [II] "Cabeza de Estopa/Cap d'Estopes" de Barcelona ([1054]-murdered Perxa de Astor, near Girona 6 Dec 1082, bur Girona). The Gesta Comitum Barcinonensium names (in order) "Petrum…Raimundi et Berengarium Raimundi et Raimundum Berengarii" as the sons of "Raimundus Berengarii"[285]. The Inquisitio circa comitatum Carcassonæ names "Raimundo-Berengarii…Cap-de-Stopes" as older of the two sons of "Raimundus-Berengarii Vetus", specifying that he was killed "in festo S Nicolai" after the birth of his own son[286]. "Raimundum Berengarium comitem Barchinonensium et Adalmus cometissa et filios nostros Raimundum et Berengarium et Arnaldum Petri" donated property to the monastery Barberà by charter dated 25 Mar 1054 (although the document must be misdated considering the date of the donor´s third marriage)[287]. The tight chronology of Ramon Berenguer´s third marriage and the naming of his sons in charters suggests that the two older sons may have been twins. However, no primary source has yet been identified which confirms that this is correct. A simpler explanation of the timing difficulties is that the 1053 and 1054 charters were misdated. The publication of the testament of "comitis Barchinone…Raimundi Berengarii" dated 12 Nov 1076 names "duobus filiis suis…Raimundo Berengarii et Berengario Raimundi…"[288]. He succeeded his father in 1076 as Comte de Barcelona, Girona, i Ausona, jointly with his brother Berenguer Ramon II. The contacts with Norman Sicily established by Ramon Berenguer´s marriage marked the start of the commercial expansion of Barcelona and the growth of Catalan influence throughout the Mediterranean. "Sancius…rex Aragonensium" granted privileges to the monastery of San Pedro de Siresa by charter dated 4 Sep 1082, the dating clause of which refers to "…Raimundo Beringerii et Beringerii Raimundi fratribus comitibus in Barcelona"[289]. His brother comte Berenguer Ramon II quarrelled with him, calling for a division of their territories, and murdered Ramon Berenguer. The Annales Barcinonenses record that "Raimundus comes Barchinonensis" was killed in 1082[290]. The Crónica de San Juan de la Peña records the death in 1082 of "Remon Berenguer Cap" aged 25 and his burial "en la Seu de Girona"[291]. A document prepared during the reign of Alfonso II King of Aragon, relating to rights in the county of Carcassonne, records that Ramon Berenguer was killed "in festo Sancti Nicolai" after the birth of his son[292]. The necrology of Ripoll records that "Raymundus Berengarius Barchinonensis comes et marchio" was killed 5 Dec "in colle de Astor per fratrem suum"[293]. m (1078) as her first husband, MATHILDE di Apulia, daughter of ROBERT "Guiscard" Duke of Apulia and Calabria & his second wife Sichelgaita di Salerno ([1059]-after 6 Jun 1112, bur Girona). The Gesta Comitum Barcinonensium record that "Raimundus-Berengarii filius [Raimundi-Berengarii]" married "filiam…Rotberti Guiscardi Ducis Apuliæ et Messinæ"[294]. Mathilde was the oldest daughter of Robert "Guiscard" according to William of Apulia[295]. The Alexeiad records that Robert "Guiscard" betrothed "one daughter to Raymond, son of the Count Barcinon" but does not name her[296]. Her parentage is confirmed by the Vita Sancti Ollegarii which names her son "Raymundum comitem Barchinonensem filium filiæ Roberti Guisardi principis Apuliæ"[297]. She was known as MAHALTA in Catalonia. Ramon and his wife "Maheltis" donated property to a vassal by undated charter[298]. She was strongly supported by Guillem Ramon Seneschal of Catalonia and his brothers after her first husband's murder. She married secondly ([1085/87]) Amaury [I] Vicomte de Narbonne, her second marriage being deduced from the testament of her son by her first marriage "Raimundus Berengarii…Barchinonensis comes et marchio", dated [8 Jul] 1130, which appoints "Aimericum fratrem meum" as one of the testator's manumissores[299]. "Aimericus…vicecomes Narbone…et uxor mea Mealtis…et filiorum eius" donated property to the abbey of Saint-Martial on leaving for the Holy Land, by charter dated [1100/01][300]. Pontich records the burial of "la Comptesa muller del compte D. Ramon Berenguer" in "la Sta Iglesia de Gerona…casi devant la de son marit"[301]. Ramon Berenguer and his mother Mahalta issued a charter dated 6 Jun 1112[302]. Ramon Berenguer [II] & his wife had [two] children