Muño Peláez
Encyclopedia
Muño or Munio Peláez was a Galician
magnate during the reigns of Alfonso VI, Urraca and Alfonso VII. By December 1108 he held the title of comes (count
), the highest in the kingdom. He was a son of Pelayo Gómez, son of Gómez Díaz de Carrión and Teresa Peláez, and Elvira Muñoz, daughter of Muño Rodríguez and Ilduara Velázquez. His ancestors had founded the monastery of Santa María de Ferreira.
On 17 September 1111, Muño participated in the coronation of a young Alfonso VII in opposition to his mother, Urraca, at Santiago de Compostela
. At the banquet following the coronation Muño acted as regalis offertorius, the official in charge of the food. Between May 1112 and November 1116 Muño governed the Galician tenencia of Monterroso
, a region south of Lugo
, west of the river Miño, and along the Way of Saint James. By the summer of 1114 he made peace with Queen Urraca, which keeps with the description of him provided by the Historia compostellana that he tried to steer a moderate course. He was still on Urraca's side in 1116. In the spring of 1120 Queen Urraca imprisoned Muño, probably for defecting to her son, and deprived him of all his lands, but by the next year he was restored and was supporting the queen against the Galician archbishop Diego Gelmírez
. Muño was among those nobles forced in 1114 to swear an oath to "honour" Diego as part of the archbishop's reconciliation with the queen. Sometime in 1121 Muño built an "adulterine" (i.e., illegal) castle on the River Iso near Compostela. The Historia compostellana calls it a "den of robbers and bandits", and Diego managed to raze it to the ground soon after it was built. Muño was soon interceding on Diego's behalf with his brother-in-law Vermudo Pérez de Traba, whose castle at Faro
Diego claimed.
Alfonso VII succeeded his mother in 1126. Throughout his reign, Muño stayed an essentially Galician figure. He did not once attend court between 1127 and 1134, though he did attend in 1135 and was probably present at the imperial coronation of Alfonso in May. He joined the court on its tours of Galicia in 1137 and 1141, and once more, probably shortly before his death, in 1142, when the court was in Burgos
. It has been speculated that physical infirmity may have played a rôle in keeping Muño in Galicia.
Muño was also a patron of the Galician church, making donations to Lugo Cathedral
(1123), Santiago Cathedral
and the regular clergy
at Sar (1141). Though he is not mentioned in the Historia compostellana among those who paid homage to Alfonso VII upon his succession in 1126, it is known from documentary sources that he was in Zamora
on 13 April when Alfonso was there to receive the homage of the Galician aristocracy.
Muño married Lupa Pérez, daughter of Pedro Fróilaz de Traba
and Urraca Fróilaz. They were married by 30 October 1130. In December 1147, possibly after Muño's death, Lupa, calling herself Deo devota (devoted to God), made a donation to the Cistercian monks of Monfero Abbey on the condition that they would say a mass for her soul and her husband's annually on 30 September, the day after Michaelmas
. She had previously patronised Monfero in July 1137 and would again in August 1150. In April that year she had purchased a piece of land at San Cristóbal de Dormeá, where, on 1 October 1152, she founded a monastery. When the new monastery received a royal privilege from Ferdinand II
on 8 November 1157, Lupa was still living. Her children by Muño were Aldonza, Elvira, Fernando, Pedro and Teresa.
Kingdom of Galicia
The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Suebic king Hermeric in the year 409, the Galician capital was established in Braga, being the first kingdom which...
magnate during the reigns of Alfonso VI, Urraca and Alfonso VII. By December 1108 he held the title of comes (count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
), the highest in the kingdom. He was a son of Pelayo Gómez, son of Gómez Díaz de Carrión and Teresa Peláez, and Elvira Muñoz, daughter of Muño Rodríguez and Ilduara Velázquez. His ancestors had founded the monastery of Santa María de Ferreira.
On 17 September 1111, Muño participated in the coronation of a young Alfonso VII in opposition to his mother, Urraca, at Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
. At the banquet following the coronation Muño acted as regalis offertorius, the official in charge of the food. Between May 1112 and November 1116 Muño governed the Galician tenencia of Monterroso
Monterroso
Monterroso is a municipality in Lugo province in Galicia in north-west Spain.-History:Monterroso was the seat of an important tenencia in medieval Galicia...
, a region south of Lugo
Lugo
Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 97,635 in 2010, which makes is the fourth most populated city in Galicia.-Population:...
, west of the river Miño, and along the Way of Saint James. By the summer of 1114 he made peace with Queen Urraca, which keeps with the description of him provided by the Historia compostellana that he tried to steer a moderate course. He was still on Urraca's side in 1116. In the spring of 1120 Queen Urraca imprisoned Muño, probably for defecting to her son, and deprived him of all his lands, but by the next year he was restored and was supporting the queen against the Galician archbishop Diego Gelmírez
Diego Gelmírez
Diego Gelmírez was the second bishop and first archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. He is a prominent figure in the history of Galicia and an important historiographer of the Spain of his day...
. Muño was among those nobles forced in 1114 to swear an oath to "honour" Diego as part of the archbishop's reconciliation with the queen. Sometime in 1121 Muño built an "adulterine" (i.e., illegal) castle on the River Iso near Compostela. The Historia compostellana calls it a "den of robbers and bandits", and Diego managed to raze it to the ground soon after it was built. Muño was soon interceding on Diego's behalf with his brother-in-law Vermudo Pérez de Traba, whose castle at Faro
A Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
Diego claimed.
Alfonso VII succeeded his mother in 1126. Throughout his reign, Muño stayed an essentially Galician figure. He did not once attend court between 1127 and 1134, though he did attend in 1135 and was probably present at the imperial coronation of Alfonso in May. He joined the court on its tours of Galicia in 1137 and 1141, and once more, probably shortly before his death, in 1142, when the court was in Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
. It has been speculated that physical infirmity may have played a rôle in keeping Muño in Galicia.
Muño was also a patron of the Galician church, making donations to Lugo Cathedral
Lugo Cathedral
250px|thumb|View with the bell tower and the Gothic-style rear, featuring [[buttress]]es.250px|thumb|Rear view.Saint Mary's Cathedral , better known as Lugo Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral and basilica in Lugo, Galicia, north-western Spain, built starting from the early 12th century...
(1123), Santiago Cathedral
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral of the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The cathedral is the reputed burial-place of Saint James the Greater, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. It is the destination of the Way of St...
and the regular clergy
Regular clergy
Regular clergy, or just regulars, is applied in the Roman Catholic Church to clerics who follow a "rule" in their life. Strictly, it means those members of religious orders who have made solemn profession. It contrasts with secular clergy.-Terminology and history:The observance of the Rule of St...
at Sar (1141). Though he is not mentioned in the Historia compostellana among those who paid homage to Alfonso VII upon his succession in 1126, it is known from documentary sources that he was in Zamora
Zamora, Spain
Zamora is a city in Castile and León, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. It lies on a rocky hill in the northwest, near the frontier with Portugal and crossed by the Duero river, which is some 50 km downstream as it reaches the Portuguese frontier...
on 13 April when Alfonso was there to receive the homage of the Galician aristocracy.
Muño married Lupa Pérez, daughter of Pedro Fróilaz de Traba
Pedro Fróilaz de Traba
Pedro Fróilaz de Traba was the most powerful secular magnate in the Kingdom of Galicia during the first quarter of the twelfth century. According to the Historia compostelana, he was "spirited ... warlike ... of great power .....
and Urraca Fróilaz. They were married by 30 October 1130. In December 1147, possibly after Muño's death, Lupa, calling herself Deo devota (devoted to God), made a donation to the Cistercian monks of Monfero Abbey on the condition that they would say a mass for her soul and her husband's annually on 30 September, the day after Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
. She had previously patronised Monfero in July 1137 and would again in August 1150. In April that year she had purchased a piece of land at San Cristóbal de Dormeá, where, on 1 October 1152, she founded a monastery. When the new monastery received a royal privilege from Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II of Leon
Ferdinand II was King of León and Galicia from 1157 to his death.-Life:Born in Toledo, Castile, he was the son of King Alfonso VII of León and Castile and of Berenguela, of the House of Barcelona. At his father's death, he received León and Galicia, while his brother Sancho received Castile and...
on 8 November 1157, Lupa was still living. Her children by Muño were Aldonza, Elvira, Fernando, Pedro and Teresa.
External links
- There is a brief genealogical notice at the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy's Medieval Lands Project website.