Mumadona Dias
Encyclopedia
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.
Celebrated, rich and the most powerful woman in the Northwest of the Iberian peninsula
, she has been commemorated by several Portuguese cities.
In c. 926 Mumadona was already married to Count Hermenegildo González
. She governed the county alone after her husband's death in c. 928. She left it in the ownership of countless domains, in an area that coincided reasonably with zones that would integrate the back counties of Portucale and of Coimbra
.
Those domains were divided in July of 950 among her six children, giving Gonzalo Menéndez
the county of Portucale. In 950 or 951, with divine inspiration, she founded, on her property in Vimaranes, a monastery under São Mamede
's invocation (Mosteiro of São Mamede or Mosteiro of Guimarães
). Later she professed her vows there. To protect this monastery and its people from Viking
raids, she initiated the construction of the Castle of Guimarães
, in the shade of which Guimarães' burgh was developed. Eventually this became the headquarters of the court of the counts of Portucale.
The testamentary document in which she makes the donation of her domains, cattle
, incomes, religious objects and books to Guimarães monastery, dated of January 26 959, was important for verifying the existence of several castles and villages in the region.
County of Portugal
The County of Portugal was the region around Braga and Porto, today corresponding to littoral northern Portugal, from the late ninth to the early twelfth century, during which it was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León.-History:...
in the 10th century, ruling between c. 924 - c. 950. She was daughter of Count Diogo Fernandes and of countess Onega.
Celebrated, rich and the most powerful woman in the Northwest of the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, she has been commemorated by several Portuguese cities.
In c. 926 Mumadona was already married to 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...
. She governed the county alone after her husband's death in c. 928. She left it in the ownership of countless domains, in an area that coincided reasonably with zones that would integrate the back counties of Portucale and of Coimbra
County of Coimbra
The County of Coimbra was a political entity instituted as a subsidiary county for the prince Ardavast or Sisebuto son of King Wittiza until the fall of Visigothic Hispania by Abderraman III ruler of Al-Andalus. The first counts established a long and great dynasty which were several families and...
.
Those domains were divided in July of 950 among her six children, giving Gonzalo Menéndez
Gonzalo Menéndez
Gonzalo Menéndez was a Count of Portugal in the Kingdom of León. He regularly carries the title count , the highest in the kingdom, in surviving documents. He may have used the title magnus dux portucalensium...
the county of Portucale. In 950 or 951, with divine inspiration, she founded, on her property in Vimaranes, a monastery under São Mamede
São Mamede
São Mamede can refer to:* São Mamede , a parish in Lisbon, Portugal* São Mamede , a town in Paraíba, Brazil* São Mamede de Este, a Portuguese parish* São Mamede de Infesta, a Portuguese city...
's invocation (Mosteiro of São Mamede or Mosteiro 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:...
). Later she professed her vows there. To protect this monastery and its people from Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
raids, she initiated the construction of the Castle of Guimarães
Castle of Guimarães
Castelo de Guimarães , located in the city of Guimarães, Portugal, was ordered to be built by Dona Mumadona Dias in the 10th century in order to defend its monastery from Muslim and Norman attacks....
, in the shade of which Guimarães' burgh was developed. Eventually this became the headquarters of the court of the counts of Portucale.
The testamentary document in which she makes the donation of her domains, cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, incomes, religious objects and books to Guimarães monastery, dated of January 26 959, was important for verifying the existence of several castles and villages in the region.