Egas Moniz - The Aio
Egas Moniz Ribadouro, was born in years 70 eleventh century and belonged to a prominent family of the territory of Ribadouro. At that time it was normal the royal children are educated together of noble families who became his tutors. Egas Moniz was so D ay. Afonso Henriques, who would become the first king of Portugal.
This is a most interesting character, whose life is shrouded in legends and stories of honor and dedication. We do not know whether true or not, however, are part of our collective memory that should be preserved and perpetuate.
One legend states that D. Afonso Henriques was born with serious physical defects, namely a deficiency of the legs. However, Egas Moniz created the child with all the love and dedication always hoping to find a cure for their problems. Therefore, overnight, Our Lady appeared in a dream to Egas Moniz and asked him to go to a certain place and finish digging a church that would have been started in her honor. After the construction of the Church, put the young Afonso on the altar and was immediately healed miraculously this their physical problems. This corresponds to the church today Monastery of Santa Maria de Cárquere (Resende).
Another version of the legend, account that D. Afonso Henriques never would have improved its shortcomings by having just died. Then, Egas Moniz combined with D. Henrique, the father of the deceased child, replace the dead child by one of the sons of Egas Moniz who was the same age, so that this could have a strong heir and able to succeed him as brave military leader.
This story, for many would be the explanation for the attitude taken by Egas Moniz years later. So pray that, the various separatist attempts of young Afonso Henriques, angered his cousin D. Alfonso VII, King of Castile, whom the Portuguese Province was vassalage. Therefore, in 1127, the king's army advances on the north of Portugal and have to make a siege of Guimarães.
Despite hunger and fatigue, Afonso Henriques refusal to surrender, but allows Egas Moniz to negotiate peace with his cousin. These negotiations resulted in Afonso Henriques undertook to keep
submission and obedience to the kingdom of Leon, thus allowing the lifting of the siege.
However, after a year D. Afonso Henriques breaking his promise and invades Galicia. Tradition has, then, that Egas Moniz being a man of honor, goes to Toledo accompanied by his family and presents the king with a rope around his neck put his life and that of their layout, as the price to pay for the broken commitment.
The king, then, moved with such honor, forgive Egas Moniz and sends it back to the Portuguese Province. There is no known document attesting to the truthfulness of this episode. However, this whole narrative is carved in the Egas Moniz's tomb found in the Monastery of the Saviour of Paço de Sousa, which for some historians is proof as history has at least a grain of truth.
See video : Egas Moniz Reality and Legend
Mafalda Sanches – A Beata
Another character deeply linked to the territory of the Sousa Valley is the Queen Beata Mafalda. Daughter of D. Sancho I, second king of Portugal given the name of his grandmother Queen D. Mafalda of Savoy, D woman. Afonso Henriques. D. Mafalda was born between 1195 and 1196, in Amarante. He was soon entrusted to the care of his nurse D. Magpie Viegas, daughter of Egas Moniz, and received a very close education that which had already been transmitted to his grandfather. By age eleven, joins the sisters - Teresa and Sancha – the Monastery Lorvão, pleasing her life of devotion to God according to the rules of Cistercian.
When in 1211, D. Afonso II, The Fat, brother of D. Mafalda ascends the throne ends the tranquility of the young princess. The king calls into question the areas left to his three sisters by his father D. Sancho I. This question turned out to become a real civil war between the brothers, which contributed to the Princess D. Mafalda opted for a religious life.
However, death D. Alfonso VIII of Castile came again ruin the princess's plans. Thus D. Alfonso II saw an alliance with Castile opportunity to marry D. Mafalda with D. Henry I the new king, but still only a child 12 years old. D. Mafalda, then with 19 years old, can not deny its obligations was forced to marry with the young king of Castile.
However, before the marriage was consummated, was made an application for annulment of the same by D. Bérengère, D sister. Henry I, which wanted the brother marry another suitor. The reason for the annulment presented to Pope Innocent III would be the relationship of proximity between the bride and groom, because they were cousins. But before the decision was made, D. Henry I died accidentally 1217, getting marriage "dissolved by God". Free wedding Mafalda can return to Portugal and devote himself to religion and keeping charity, however, the title of Queen of Castile.
Evil returns, establishing a restructuring plan for the Monastery of Arouca and 1224 obtains authorization to replace it by the Benedictine order of Cistercian. The same, in 1230, with Bouças monastery that also goes for the Benedictine Cistercian. D. Mafalda thus leads an austere life dedicated to prayer, meditation and penance but still hold a vast heritage thanks to inheritances and gifts from their parents and family of their love D. Urraca Viegas who raised and loved her like a daughter.
Their parents inherited the Bouças Monastery and the Arouca, as well as various properties of his late mother. Family of Ribadouro received, among others, parishes and honors San Salvador Aveleda and Santa Cristina Nogueira (Lousada), honored the parishes and churches of St. Thomas and St. Christopher's Bitarães Louredo, the honor of San Pedro de Gondalães (Aguiar de Sousa) as well as, Take the honors of Canas, Santiago de Louredo, Santa Marta Castro and S. Martin of Moazares (Penafiel).
Throughout his life D. Mafalda always knew apply his immense fortune in helping the poor and unfortunate. Promoted the settlement of populations sending erect bridges and churches and promoting agriculture, fishing and to pastorícia. Among the churches that he built is allocated to the Head of the Holy Church, Penafiel, due to the devotion that the infant had the relic (a skull) that there was. It is also regarded as the founder of Church of Saint Peter of Abragão and Saint Genes of Boelhe, although the latter construction is also sometimes given to grandma, D. Mafalda of Savoy.
The importance of this Queen to the Vale de Sousa also due to donations-that is willed particularly in Sousa Palace Monastery and the Bishop Little Village.
D. Mafalda would have found death in 1257, when returning from Rio Tinto, after a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Silva, in the see Porto. Legend has it that there was a dispute between Rio Tinto and villages Arouca to know where he would be buried. The solution to the discord was put the coffin on the mule where the Queen used to travel and this would be buried in the place where it would direct the animal. The mule had no doubts and stopped only at the altar of St. Peter, in Arouca Monastery Church.
In 1616, his tomb was opened and her body found incorrupt. Are assigned, as well, some miracles as during a fire, shortly after his death, in Arouca Monastery, was seen by the nuns to put out the flames with the sign of the cross, allowing the rescue of all patients and hospitalized.
In view of this and a life dedicated to others and to God, worthy of St., began a long process that led to the beatification of the Mafalda Sanches 27 st of June 1793 by Pope Pius VI.
The affection of the people for their "Rainha Santa" is evident in the territory of the Sousa Valley and Tâmega, where were built many monuments in his memory, as Memorial of Ermida Penafiel, from Hayloft in Castelo de Paiva and Alpendorada in Marco de Canaveses. These are traditionally, cited as marking the passage of the funeral procession of D. Mafalda to the Arouca Monastery.