Elvira Menéndez facts for kids
Elvira Menéndez is the name of two important queens in the history of the Kingdom of León in Spain. Both women played a role in the royal families of their time. It's easy to mix them up because they share the same name! Let's learn about each of them.
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Who Was Elvira Menéndez (died 921)?
Elvira Menéndez was a queen consort of León. This means she was the wife of a king. Her husband was Ordoño II of León, who ruled the Kingdom of León from 914 to 924.
Early Life and Family
Elvira was born around the year 875. Her parents were Hermenegildo Gutiérrez and Ermesinda Gatónez. Her father was a very powerful count in the Kingdom of Galicia. This made Elvira a noblewoman with important family connections.
Marriage to King Ordoño II
Elvira married Prince Ordoño before he became king. They had several children together. Their children included:
- Sancho Ordóñez, who later became King of Galicia.
- Alfonso IV of León, who became King of León after his father.
- Ramiro II of León, another son who also became King of León.
- And several daughters.
Elvira was a queen during a time when the Christian kingdoms in Spain were expanding. She died in the year 921, while her husband Ordoño II was still king. She was buried in the Cathedral of Oviedo.
Who Was Elvira Menéndez (died 1022)?
Another important queen named Elvira Menéndez was the wife of Alfonso V of León. She lived much later than the first Elvira, about a century later.
Background and Family
This Elvira Menéndez was the daughter of Menendo González, a powerful count of Portucale (which is now part of Portugal). Her mother was Tutadona Moniz de Coimbra. Her family was very influential in the western parts of the kingdom.
Marriage to King Alfonso V
Elvira married King Alfonso V of León in 1013. Alfonso V was a young king who came to the throne when he was only three years old. Elvira was his first wife.
Together, Elvira and Alfonso V had two children:
- Bermudo III of León, who became king after his father.
- Sancha of León, who married Ferdinand I of León and was also a queen.
Life as Queen
Elvira was a queen during a time of rebuilding for the Kingdom of León. The city of León had been badly damaged in earlier conflicts. King Alfonso V worked to rebuild the city and its laws. Elvira supported her husband in his rule.
Sadly, Queen Elvira died in 1022, just nine years after her marriage. She was buried in the Pantheon of the Kings in the Basilica of San Isidoro in León.
