The counts dispensed justice, received tributes, minted coins, called up the army and the knights and possessed overall control of public property. Their wealth grew with the tributes paid by the Muslim taifas. The counts of Cerdanya, Besalú, Urgell and Roussillon swore an oath of fidelity and vassalage to Ramon Berenguer I, thus beginning the dominance of the house of Barcelona. A policy of matrimonial ties extended their power into Occitania, formerly Septimania. Ermessenda of Carcassonne and Almodis of the March, countesses originally from Occitania, were noted for their political firmness.