Berenguer Ramon II, born in 1053 or 1054, had succeeded his father Ramon Berenguer I the Old in 1075 to co-rule with his twin brother Ramon Berenguer II.

The twins had failed to agree and divided their possessions between them, against the will of their late father.

Ramon Berenguer II had been killed while hunting in the woods on December 5, 1082.

Berenguer Ramon II, who became the sole ruler of Catalonia for the next four years, is credited by popular opinion with having orchestrated this murder.

This suspicion and other divisions of loyalty lead to a civil war.

Various parties assert ways to resolve this 'unjust and iniquitous murder', which lead to a moderate compromise in 1086 in which Berenguer Ramon II will rule Catalonia with his brother's four-year-old son Ramon Berenguer III for eleven years until he comes of age.

El Cid has set his sights over the past several years on the kingdom-city of Valencia, operating more or less independently of Alfonso while politically supporting the Banu Hud and other Muslim dynasties opposed to the Almoravids.

Around 1089-1090, El Cid, with a combined Christian and Moorish army, had begun maneuvering in order to create his own fiefdom in the Moorish Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia.

Several obstacles lie in his way.

First was Berenguer Ramón II, who rules nearby Barcelona.

In May 1090, El Cid defeats and captures Berenguer in the Battle of Tébar (nowadays Pinar de Tévar, near Monroyo, Teruel).

Berenguer will later be released and his nephew Ramón Berenguer III will marry El Cid's youngest daughter Maria to ward against future conflicts.

Along the way to Valencia, a prize also desired by the new Almoravid rulers of southern Spain, …

…El Cid also conquers other towns, many of which are near Valencia, such as El Puig and …

…Quart de Poblet.

Ermengol VI, Count of Urgell, called el de Castilla, was born in Valladolid, whence his nickname comes.

During his minority, he was under the regency of his grandfather, Pedro Ansúrez, lord of Valladolid, but the real power lies in the hands of Guerau II of Cabrera and Raymond Berenguer III of Barcelona.

With their help, the young count conquers Balaguer from the Moors in 1106 and makes it his capital; it will remain so for subsequent counts of Urgell.

The Almoravid governor of Zaragoza, Muhàmmad ibn al-Hajj, launches an offensive against the County of Barcelona; Ramon Berenguer II defeats him at the Battle of Martorell.

An expedition of Pisans and Catalans led by Ramon Berenguer III overruns the islands of Ibiza and Majorca in 1114, laying siege to Palma for eight months.

After the city falls, the invaders retreat due to problems in their own lands, and are replaced by the Almoravids.

Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and his Pisan allies conquer Ibiza and …

…Mallorca.

They become his tributaries and many Christian slaves here are recovered and set free.

The Almoravid governor of Zaragoza, Muhàmmad ibn al-Hajj, launches an offensive against the County of Barcelona but is defeated at the Battle of Martorell by Ramon Berenguer III.