He was the third son of Count Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona and Queen Petronilla of Aragon.
He received Cerdanya, including Carcassonne and Narbonne, on his father's death, but relinquished it to his younger brother Sancho in 1168.
In 1176, he joined Sancho in conquering Nice from Genoa.
He then ventured to war with the lords of Languedoc and the count of Toulouse.
He was assassinated on 5 April 1181 by the men of Adhemar of Murviel near Montpellier.