He was the son of Ramon Borrell, count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona, and his wife, Ermesinde of Carcassonne.

Moreover, his policy of peace with the Moors was a bone of contention with the noblesse, who saw war with the Muslims as a way of obtaining glory, wealth, and possibly even salvation.

But, as a woman, her capability to exercise control of the military was greatly impeded and organizing a raid or expedition to satisfy the wants of the aristocracy was virtually impossible.

The weakening of comital authority became evident shortly before his death in 1035, when Ermesinde successfully partitioned his patrimony among his sons.

In 1021, Berenguer married the king of Navarre's sister-in-law, Sancha Sánchez [es], daughter of Sancho Garcés, Count of Castile.