The counties of Provence and Barcelona had…
1137 CE
The counties of Provence and Barcelona had formed a union in 1134, around the same time the kingdom of Aragon had split from that of Navarre.
Ramiro, who seeks Barcelona's aid against Alfonso VII of Castile, withdraws from public life on November 13, 1137, leaving his kingdom to Petronilla and Ramon Berenguer, the latter in effect becoming ruler of Aragon, although he will never be king himself, instead commonly using the titles "Count of the Barcelonans and Prince of the Aragonians" (Comes Barcinonensis et Princeps Aragonensis), and occasionally those of "Marquis of Lleida and Tortosa" (after conquering these cities).
He will be the last Catalan ruler to use "Count" as his primary title; starting with his son Alfonso II of Aragon, the counts of Barcelona will style themselves, in the first place, as kings of Aragon.
The mercantile County of Barcelona will preserve considerable autonomy.