The first count known by name, Gaucelm, received the County of Empúries in 817. The counties of Roussillon and Empúries remained united until 989. However, they probably had separate viscounts. The office of viscount appeared in Roussillon early when a Richelm is mentioned as filling it in 859. The original viscounts acted as "missi dominici" of the margraves of Septimania. Throughout this period, Roussillon gradually gained "de facto" independence from its nominal suzerain, the king of France. As late as 878, Louis the Stammerer could enforce his will in the selection of Roussillon's count, but by the end of the 9th century the royal writ rarely ran as far south as the Pyrenees. The counties of Roussillon and Empúries became relatively stable, hereditary possessions of the Bellonid family; Gausfred I even took the title "dux" (duke) in 975.