Elvira Menéndez (died 921) facts for kids

Elvira Menéndez (called Elvira Mendes in Portuguese and Galician) was a queen who lived a long time ago. She was the Queen of the Kingdom of León because she married King Ordoño II. She passed away in the year 921.

The Life of Queen Elvira

Elvira was the daughter of a powerful nobleman named Hermenegildo Gutiérrez. Her father was a count in places like Tuy and Oporto (which is now in Portugal). He was famous for taking back the city of Coimbra from the Moors. Elvira's mother was Ermesenda Gatónez.

Around the year 892, Elvira married Infante Ordoño. An Infante is a prince in Spain and Portugal. Ordoño was the son of King Alfonso III of Asturias. At first, Ordoño ruled as King of Galicia. Later, when his brother García I died in 914, Ordoño became the King of León.

Queen Elvira often signed important papers with her husband, King Ordoño. These papers were called charters. Many of them were special gifts or rights given to nobles and churches in Galicia. They especially gave many gifts to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which was a very important church.

Queen Elvira died sometime between February and October in 921. A writer named Sampiro wrote about her death. He said that when King Ordoño heard the sad news, he was returning from a successful battle against the Moors. Sampiro wrote that the king's sadness was as great as his joy from winning the battle. Queen Elvira was buried in the Pantheon of Asturian Kings. This special burial place is inside the Cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo.

Queen Elvira's Children

Queen Elvira and King Ordoño had five children together:

• Sancho Ordóñez: He later became the King of Galicia.
• Alfonso IV: He became the King of León.
• Ramiro II: He also became the King of León after his brother Alfonso gave up the throne.
• Jimena Ordóñez: She lived until at least the year 935.
• García Ordóñez: He lived until at least the year 934.