He was the eldest son of Ponç I and Adelaida de Besalú, and succeeded his father in Empúries while his brother, Berenguer, was given the Viscounty of Peralada.
In 1085, he made an alliance of mutual self-defence with his neighbour, Giselbert II of Roussillon.
In 1113–15, he and Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, took part in an expedition against the Balearics.
Hugh was involved in several disputes with the diocese of Girona, first with its canons and then with its bishop, Berenguer Guifré, over the tithes collected by the parish church of Santa Maria de Castelló.
Hugh was married to Sancha, daughter of Ermengol IV of Urgell, which whom he had one child, the heir Ponç II.