Centule IV of Béarn
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Centule IV Gaston (died 1058), called the Old, was the seventh Viscount of Béarn from 1012 to his death.
He succeeded his father Gaston II while yet a minor, under a regency until 1022.
He placed great importance on maintaining good relations with the church. In the year in which he assumed the powers of government, he founded the monastery of Saint-Pé-de-Geyres near the border with Bigorre. He was subsequently installed as the defensor of that monastery and of the lands of Saint Peter in Gascony and Béarn by his suzerain Sancho William, Duke of Gascony. In 1033, Centule confirmed the possession of the county of Bordeaux by Duke Odo.
He strove to expand his power into neighbouring territories and married Angela, daughter and heiress of the neighbouring Viscount Aner II Lupo of Oloron, thus uniting those two entities. He gained the valleys of Aspe, Ossau, and Barétous all the way from the river Oloron to Navarrenx. His eldest son Gaston III was associated on the vicecomital throne, but die in or before 1045. He warred against the viscounts of Dax and Soule, killing the viscount Arnold II of Dax in 1050. He himself died in an Souletin ambush eight years later. His grandson Centule V succeeded him.
Asides from Gaston, he had six children:
- Raymond Centule
- Aureol Centule, lord of Clarac
- Igon
- Baudreix
- Boeil
- Auga
| Preceded by Gaston II |
Viscount of Béarn 1012 – 1058 |
Succeeded by Centule V |
