Estefanía Ramírez facts for kids
Estefanía Ramírez (died 1183) was an important noblewoman in the Kingdom of León. She was the daughter of Count Ramiro Fróilaz. Estefanía married Count Ponce de Minerva.
Together, Estefanía and Ponce founded the Monastery of Santa María de Sandoval. After her husband passed away, Estefanía continued her work. She founded two more monasteries: the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Benavides and the Monastery of Santa María de Carrizo. She later retired to the Carrizo monastery with her daughter María. María became the first leader, or abbess, of this monastery.
Her Family and Marriage
Estefanía's father, Ramiro Fróilaz, was a powerful count. He married several times. We believe Estefanía's mother was Sancha Rodríguez. This is because one of Estefanía's own daughters was also named Sancha. This was a common way to honor family members back then.
Estefanía was named after her grandmother, Countess Estefanía Sánchez. Her grandmother was part of the royal family of Navarre.
Estefanía likely married Count Ponce de Minerva around the year 1140. As a wedding gift, they received a villa called Argavallones. This gift came from Sancha Raimúndez, a princess who had helped raise Ponce.
Estefanía's father gave her half of the land in Carrizo. Her husband, Ponce, gave her the other half as a special wedding gift. Estefanía and Ponce had four children: Fernando, Ramiro, María, and Sancha Ponce. When Ponce died, he left all his lands and properties to Estefanía.
Founding Monasteries and Giving Gifts
On February 15, 1167, Estefanía and her husband Ponce founded the Cistercian Monastery of Santa María de Sandoval. Their children Ramiro, María, and Sancha were also there.
After Ponce died, Estefanía continued to support religious places. On July 30, 1175, she and her children gave their lands in Quintanilla and Mayorga to the Abbey of Santa María de Benevívere. On the same day, she also gave this abbey more properties. These gifts were made to honor her late husband.
In 1176, Estefanía founded the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Benavides. This monastery was in Boadilla de Rioseco. She gave land for it to the Monasterio de Santa María de Sobrado. The new monastery became connected to Sobrado. King Alfonso VIII of Castile also helped by donating land in Benavides for the monks.
On September 10, 1176, Estefanía made another important donation. She gave her lands in Carrizo, San Pedro del Páramo, Grulleros, Argavallones, and other places. These lands were for the new monastery of Santa María de Carrizo. She made this gift "for the soul of my husband, Don Ponce." She also said that if the Cistercian Order did not accept the monastery, her daughter María could choose another religious order for it.
Countess Estefanía later moved into the Santa María de Carrizo monastery. Her daughter María joined her and became the first abbess. Estefanía did not become a nun herself. Instead, she managed the monastery as its lady. This was a common practice for families who founded and supported monasteries. She lived there until she died in 1183. Both Estefanía and her husband, Count Ponce de Minerva, were buried at the Monastery of Sandoval, which they had founded together.
See also
In Spanish: Estefanía Ramírez para niños
