Gonzalo Menéndez facts for kids

Gonzalo Menéndez (also known as Gonçalo Mendes) was an important count in Portugal during the 900s. At that time, Portugal was part of the Kingdom of León. He was a powerful leader and often held the highest title in the kingdom, "count." Some records suggest he might have even been called the "great duke of the Portuguese." His name usually appeared as Gundisaluus Menendiz in old documents.

Gonzalo was the son of Count Hermenegildo González and Mumadona Dias. He was named after his grandfather, Count Gonzalo Betótez. His father passed away by 950, and Gonzalo is first mentioned in documents from that year when his mother was sharing some of their family lands.

Life of a Powerful Count

Early Challenges and Conflicts

In 966, King Sancho I of León died after a meal with Gonzalo. Later in the 960s, Gonzalo's lands faced attacks from the Vikings. In 968, he had a disagreement with King Ramiro III of León because the king refused to fight these invaders. In the political struggles of the time, Gonzalo seemed to support the family line of King Ordoño III and his son Vermudo II, rather than Sancho I and Ramiro III.

Family Rivalries and Battles

Gonzalo's mother, who was an abbess (a leader of a monastery for women) in Guimarães, had a dispute with a relative of a powerful Galician leader named Rodrigo Velásquez. This started a long-lasting rivalry between their families. A relative of Rodrigo's had taken over a monastery that belonged to a monk named Odoino. Odoino asked Gonzalo's mother for help. She sent Gonzalo and his brother Ramiro to make the relative return the monastery. This conflict led to open fighting between Gonzalo's group and Rodrigo's group. Around 968 or 974, Gonzalo defeated his rival in a battle called the Battle of Aguioncha.

Supporting a New King

In 981, after a Christian army lost a battle at Rueda, Gonzalo led a rebellion against King Ramiro III. This rebellion helped place Ramiro III's cousin, Vermudo Ordóñez, on the throne. Vermudo might have been Gonzalo's nephew. Gonzalo was quickly joined by his son Menendo González and other important leaders. Several bishops also supported the revolt. The first document that called Vermudo "king" was a gift to a monastery made by Gonzalo on December 22 of that year. Gonzalo is sometimes given credit for helping Vermudo become king by removing Pelayo Rodríguez, the son of his old enemy Rodrigo Velázquez, from a church leadership position in 982.

By 985, Gonzalo and many other Portuguese leaders began to use the title "duke." Gonzalo was usually listed as the most important among them in documents. In 994, he was given control of the city and area of Braga. Gonzalo Menéndez died in 997 during a military campaign led by a powerful Muslim leader named Almanzor against Santiago de Compostela.

Family Life

Before 964, Gonzalo married Ilduara Peláez, who was his first cousin. She was the daughter of his father's brother. Ilduara is first mentioned in 961, though not yet as his wife. She passed away by 983, because in that year, Gonzalo appears to be married to a woman named Hermesinda. Hermesinda was still alive in 1008.

Gonzalo had six children, all with his first wife, Ilduara. His oldest sons, Ramiro and Rosendo, were not as involved in politics as his third son, Menendo. He also had a younger son named Diego, and two daughters, Toda and Mumadona.

See also

In Spanish: Gonzalo Menéndez (conde) para niños