Barral came to oppose the Albigensian Crusade, and invaded the Comtat Venaissin in 1234 in support of Raymond VII of Toulouse.
In 1239, Barral entered negotiations to have his daughter Cecile marry Guigues VII, Dauphin of Viennois, another supporter of Toulouse.
Under pressure from Philip of Savoy, Barral reneged on the engagement, saying he had only agreed to it in fear of his life.
In 1244, Barral helped arbitrate the latest conflict between Savoy and Provence on one side and the dauphin and Aymar III of Valentinois on the other.
[6] In 1255, Barral was again called on to mediate the disputes between Philip of Savoy and the Valentinois-Viennois alliance.