Hermenegildo González or Mendo I Gonçalves (died between 943 and 950) was a Galician count in the 10th century

Kingdom of León The Kingdom of León; es, Reino de León; gl, Reino de León; pt, Reino de Leão; la, Regnum Legionense; mwl, Reino de Lhion was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in 910 when t ...

, '' tenente'' in Deza, and the ancestor of one of the most relevant Galaico-Portuguese lineages of the

Early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Mi ...

. He appears in medieval charters confirming as ''Ermegildus Gundisaluis''.

Biography

The son of count Gonzalo Betótez and Teresa Eriz, and maternal grandson of count

Ero Fernández Ero Fernández (died 926) was a Galician people, Galician magnate, count in Lugo (province), Lugo, grandfather of Rudesind, St. Rudesind, and ancestor of several noble Galician and Portuguese lineages who married into the highest ranks of the nobil ...

, Hermenegildo had several brothers and sisters, including Aragonta González, who was the wife of

Ordoño II of León Ordoño II (c. 873 – June 924, León) was a king of Galicia from 910, and king of Galicia and León from 914 until his death. He was an energetic ruler who submitted the kingdom of Leon to his control and fought successfully against the Mus ...

before being set aside, and count Pelayo González. He begins to appear in medieval charters in 926, and apparently died relatively young, as he is no longer seen after 943, and certainly by 950 when his widow and children divide the inheritance, while his widow continues to appear through 981.

Marriage and issue

He married

Mumadona Dias Mumadona Dias, or Muniadomna Díaz (died 968), was a Galician noble and Countess of Portugal, who ruled the county jointly with her husband from about and then on her own after her husband's death around 950 until her death in 968. Celebrated, ...

, Countess of Portugal between 915 and 920, daughter of Count

Diego Fernández Diego Fernández () was a Spanish adventurer and historian of the 16th century. Biography Born at Palencia, he was educated for the church, but about 1545 he embarked for Peru, where he served in the royal army under Alonzo de Alvarado. Andrés H ...

and Countess Onecca (Onega) and founder of the

Monastery of Guimarães A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes ...

. In 926, King

Ramiro II of León Ramiro II (c. 900 – 1 January 951), son of Ordoño II and Elvira Menendez, was a King of León from 931 until his death. Initially titular king only of a lesser part of the kingdom, he gained the crown of León (and with it, Galicia) after s ...

donated to the couple the village known as '' Creximir'' near

Guimarães Guimarães () is a city and municipality located in northern Portugal, in the district of Braga. Its historic town centre has been listed as a UNESCWorld Heritage Sitesince 2001, in recognition for being an "exceptionally well-preserved and a ...

. Two years later, Mumadona's mother, Onecca, made a donation, confirmed by several magnates, including her son-in-law Hermenegildo, to the

Monastery of Lorvão A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

where she mentions all her children:In December 928, Onecca donated Villa Cova to the Monastery of Lorvão, mentioning her children who confirm the document as ''Munnia, Ledegundia, Exemenus Didaz, Mummadoma'', also confirming ''Ermegildus Gundisaluis''. Charter mentioned by Torres Sevilla-Quiñones de León. *

Gonzalo Menéndez Gonzalo Menéndez (or Gonçalo Mendes) (''fl''. 950–997) was a Count of Portugal in the Kingdom of León. He regularly carries the title count (''comes''), the highest in the kingdom, in surviving documents. He may have used the title ''mag ...

, count and ''dux magnus'' of Portugal, who first appears in a document of 24 July 950, the same document which confirms Hermenegildo as already dead. * Diego Menéndez (died after 964), married to Aldonza and father of a nun at the monastery founded by her grandmother, after whom she was named, Mumadona Dias. * Ramiro Menéndez (died before 964), married to Adosinda Gutiérrez, daughter of Count

Gutierre Menéndez Gutierre is an old Spanish male given name. The surname Gutiérrez is derived from this name. Notable people Notable people with the name include: * Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo, Spanish priest * Gutierre de Cetina (1519–1554), Spanish poet and s ...

and Ilduara Ériz. This couple were probably the parents of Queen Velasquita, the first wife of King

Bermudo II of León Bermudo (or Vermudo) II (c. 953 – September 999), called the Gouty ( es, el Gotoso), was first a rival king in Galicia (982–984) and then king of the entire Kingdom of León (984–999). His reign is summed up by Justo Pérez de Urbel's desc ...

. * Onecca Menéndez, married to Gutierre Rodríguez * Nuño Menéndez (died ca. 959); * Arias Menéndez

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Hermenegildo 10th-century deaths 10th-century people from the Kingdom of León 10th-century counts of Portugal (Asturias-León) County of Portugal Year of birth uncertain