Gonzalo Menéndez
Encyclopedia
Gonzalo Menéndez (fl. 950–997) was a Count of Portugal in the Kingdom of León
. He regularly carries the title count
(comes), the highest in the kingdom, in surviving documents. He may have used the title magnus dux portucalensium ("great duke of the Portuguese"). His name in contemporary records is usually spelled Gundisaluus Menendiz.
Gonzalo was a son of count Hermenegildo González
and Mumadona Dias
, and named for his grandfather, count Gonzalo Betótez. His father was dead by 950, when his widow distributed some of his lands. In the pertinent document Gonzalo is mentioned for the first time (24 July 950).
In 966 Gonzalo assassinated Sancho I of León
. He invited him to a banquet and fed him poisoned food, an apple according to some sources. In the late 960s Gonzalo's lands came under the ravages of the Vikings. In 968, he fell out with king Ramiro III
after the latter refused to fight them. In the factional and successional politics of the time, Gonzalo may be said to have favoured the line of Ordoño III and his son Vermudo II over Sancho I and his son Ramiro III.
A dispute between Gonzalo's mother, abbess of Guimarães
in her widowhood, and a relative of the Galician magnate Rodrigo Velásquez, spurred a rivalry between the two families that would span several years. Rodrigo's brother's sister-in-law, Guntroda, abbess of Pazóo, had appropriated the monastery of Santa Comba
, which belonged to a monk name Odoino, who appealed to Mummadomna for support. She sent her sons Gonzalo and Ramiro to force Guntroda to return it volens nolens (willing or not). The conflict left to open warfare between the factions led by Gonzalo and Rodrigo. In 968 or perhaps 974, Gonzalo defeated his rival in the Battle of Aguioncha
.
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
. He regularly carries the title count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
(comes), the highest in the kingdom, in surviving documents. He may have used the title magnus dux portucalensium ("great duke of the Portuguese"). His name in contemporary records is usually spelled Gundisaluus Menendiz.
Gonzalo was a son of count Hermenegildo González
Hermenegildo González
Hermenegildo González or Mendo I Gonçalves was a count in the 10th century Kingdom of León, and husband of Mumadona Dias, Countess of Portugal. He was son of count Gonzalo Betótez and Teresa Eriz, and maternal grandson of count Ero Fernández. His sister Aragonta González had been wife of Ordoño II...
and Mumadona Dias
Mumadona Dias
Mumadona Dias, or Muniadomna Díaz, Countess of Portugal in the 10th century, ruling between c. 924 - c. 950. She was daughter of Count Diogo Fernandes and of countess Onega....
, and named for his grandfather, count Gonzalo Betótez. His father was dead by 950, when his widow distributed some of his lands. In the pertinent document Gonzalo is mentioned for the first time (24 July 950).
In 966 Gonzalo assassinated Sancho I of León
Sancho I of León
Sancho I , called the Fat, was the son of King Ramiro II of León. He succeeded his half-brother Ordoño III in 956 and reigned until his death, except for a two year interruption from 958 to 960, when Ordoño the Wicked usurped the throne...
. He invited him to a banquet and fed him poisoned food, an apple according to some sources. In the late 960s Gonzalo's lands came under the ravages of the Vikings. In 968, he fell out with king Ramiro III
Ramiro III of León
Ramiro III , king of León , was the son of Sancho the Fat and his successor at the age of only five. During his minority, the regency was in the hands of two nuns: his aunt Elvira Ramírez of León, who took the title of queen during the minority, and his mother Teresa Ansúrez, who was put in a...
after the latter refused to fight them. In the factional and successional politics of the time, Gonzalo may be said to have favoured the line of Ordoño III and his son Vermudo II over Sancho I and his son Ramiro III.
A dispute between Gonzalo's mother, abbess of Guimarães
Guimarães
Guimarães Municipality is located in northwestern Portugal in the province of Minho and in the Braga District. It contains the city of Guimarães.The present Mayor is António Magalhães Silva, elected by the Socialist Party.-Parishes:-Economy:...
in her widowhood, and a relative of the Galician magnate Rodrigo Velásquez, spurred a rivalry between the two families that would span several years. Rodrigo's brother's sister-in-law, Guntroda, abbess of Pazóo, had appropriated the monastery of Santa Comba
Santa Comba
Santa Comba refers to a saint named Comba, a fusion of two female saints: Columba of Sens and Columba of Spain, and may refer to:Portual*Santa Comba Dão, a city and municipality*Santa Comba , a parish in the district of Ponte de Lima...
, which belonged to a monk name Odoino, who appealed to Mummadomna for support. She sent her sons Gonzalo and Ramiro to force Guntroda to return it volens nolens (willing or not). The conflict left to open warfare between the factions led by Gonzalo and Rodrigo. In 968 or perhaps 974, Gonzalo defeated his rival in the Battle of Aguioncha
Battle of Aguioncha
The Battle of Aguioncha or Aguiuncias, the culmination of a Galician–Portuguese civil war in the Kingdom of León, was fought at the hill called Aguioncha on the river Salas in the province of Ourense between two aristocratic factions...
.