Bermudo (Bishop of Oviedo)
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Bermudo or Vermudo was the ninth Bishop of Oviedo. Historians and clerics Manuel Risco
and Carlos González de Posada both date his episcopate to 976–92. Since his predecessor, Diego
, is not mentioned in any document after May 971 and no bishop of Oviedo signed the act of the synod that suppressed the Diocese of Simancas in 974, it is presumed that the diocese of Oviedo lay vacant in the early 970s. Bermudo first appears as bishop in a document of 15 March 975 confirming the donation by Cromacio Melliniz and his family of the monastery of San Jorge to the Cathedral of San Salvador and its bishop. Bermudo signs immediately after Ramiro III of León
and his regent, Elvira Ramírez
.
On 14 March 976 Bermudo confirmed a donation by the count Froila Velaz. On 23 September 978 he received a gift of the monastery of Cartavio from king Ramiro. A document of 14 January 979 is the last certain confirmation of Bermudo of Oviedo for several years. Bermudo may have confirmed a charter of 14 January 981 (it is signed by bishop named Beremundus, see unstated) and perhaps also a donation of Sevariego, Bishop of León, and a certain Gómez Didaz in the presence of the royal court on 16 November 985 (again Beremundus without a specified diocese). On 1 July 986 a royal donation was confirmed by a bishop Bermudo and a donation by a certain count Almundo on 29 May 987 by a Ueremundus episcopus (bishop Bermudo). On 24 December 988 Bermudo, identified as of Oviedo, confirmed a royal donation to Celanova. On 2 May 989 the bishop made an exchange of villages with count Gundemaro Pinioliz and his wife. In 990 and 991 a bishop Bermudo is again in the documents without reference to a diocese.
From 978 on, a certain Gudesteus
periodically signs as bishop of Oviedo. The likely explanation is that Bermudo, being perhaps old and physically weak, retired formally to a monastery and entrusted daily episcopal duties to an auxiliary bishop
, Gudesteus, who would succeed him in full later. This practice was not uncommon at the time and Oviedo had known an auxiliary bishop earlier in the tenth century (Hermenegild II, fl. 899–921). A document of 29 July 991, signed only by Gudesteus, may indicate that by then Bermudo had retired completely, only coming out of retirement for a special purpose.
On 2 September 992 both Bermudo and Gudesteus signed the same document as bishops of Oviedo. This may be related to the enmity which Bishop Pelagius reported over a century later between Gudesteus and King Bermudo II
, who was opposed more generally by the Asturians
and Leonese and was consequently forced to seek his coronation in Galicia. This last act recorded of Bermudo (2 September 992) was the witnessing of the royal will and testament in León. In it Bermudo II confirmed all Oviedo's possessions and privileges and all the gifts and concessions which he had made to it. Specific mention is made of property formerly possessed by the bishop Bermudo but which had been despoiled by the petty nobleman Ecta Sarraciniz, who fought against Bermudo II while he was still reigning only in Galicia.
Manuel Risco
Juan Manuel Martínez Ugarte , known as Manuel Risco or Padre Risco, was a Spanish historian. Born at Haro, he took the Augustinian habit at the Convento de Nuestra Señora del Risco in the Diocese of Ávila...
and Carlos González de Posada both date his episcopate to 976–92. Since his predecessor, Diego
Diego (Bishop of Oviedo)
Diego was the eighth Bishop of Oviedo. The chief source for information about him is his testament, which survives in the archives of the Cathedral of San Salvador, Oviedo. His episcopate began with the death of his predecessor, Oveco, sometime between 957 and 962.Diego was a native of the village...
, is not mentioned in any document after May 971 and no bishop of Oviedo signed the act of the synod that suppressed the Diocese of Simancas in 974, it is presumed that the diocese of Oviedo lay vacant in the early 970s. Bermudo first appears as bishop in a document of 15 March 975 confirming the donation by Cromacio Melliniz and his family of the monastery of San Jorge to the Cathedral of San Salvador and its bishop. Bermudo signs immediately after Ramiro III of León
Ramiro III of León
Ramiro III , king of León , was the son of Sancho the Fat and his successor at the age of only five. During his minority, the regency was in the hands of two nuns: his aunt Elvira Ramírez of León, who took the title of queen during the minority, and his mother Teresa Ansúrez, who was put in a...
and his regent, Elvira Ramírez
Elvira Ramírez
Elvira Ramírez was the daughter of King Ramiro II of León by his second wife, Urraca Sánchez of Pamplona, and thus half-sister of Sancho I of León, both grandchildren of Sancho I of Pamplona and Toda Aznárez. Born about 935, she was made a nun by her father, who built the "wonderfully large"...
.
On 14 March 976 Bermudo confirmed a donation by the count Froila Velaz. On 23 September 978 he received a gift of the monastery of Cartavio from king Ramiro. A document of 14 January 979 is the last certain confirmation of Bermudo of Oviedo for several years. Bermudo may have confirmed a charter of 14 January 981 (it is signed by bishop named Beremundus, see unstated) and perhaps also a donation of Sevariego, Bishop of León, and a certain Gómez Didaz in the presence of the royal court on 16 November 985 (again Beremundus without a specified diocese). On 1 July 986 a royal donation was confirmed by a bishop Bermudo and a donation by a certain count Almundo on 29 May 987 by a Ueremundus episcopus (bishop Bermudo). On 24 December 988 Bermudo, identified as of Oviedo, confirmed a royal donation to Celanova. On 2 May 989 the bishop made an exchange of villages with count Gundemaro Pinioliz and his wife. In 990 and 991 a bishop Bermudo is again in the documents without reference to a diocese.
From 978 on, a certain Gudesteus
Gudesteus (Bishop of Oviedo)
Gudesteus or Gudesteo was the tenth Bishop of Oviedo. He served as an auxiliary bishop to Bishop Bermudo, perhaps by then old and physically weak, from at least 978 and succeeded him as sole bishop on his death, probably in 992...
periodically signs as bishop of Oviedo. The likely explanation is that Bermudo, being perhaps old and physically weak, retired formally to a monastery and entrusted daily episcopal duties to an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
, Gudesteus, who would succeed him in full later. This practice was not uncommon at the time and Oviedo had known an auxiliary bishop earlier in the tenth century (Hermenegild II, fl. 899–921). A document of 29 July 991, signed only by Gudesteus, may indicate that by then Bermudo had retired completely, only coming out of retirement for a special purpose.
On 2 September 992 both Bermudo and Gudesteus signed the same document as bishops of Oviedo. This may be related to the enmity which Bishop Pelagius reported over a century later between Gudesteus and King Bermudo II
Bermudo II of León
Bermudo II , called the Gouty , was the King of Galicia and León . His reign is summed up by Justo Pérez de Urbel's description of him as "el pobre rey atormentado en la vida por la espada de Almanzor y en muerte por la pluma vengadora de un obispo" Bermudo (or Vermudo) II (956–999), called the...
, who was opposed more generally by the Asturians
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
and Leonese and was consequently forced to seek his coronation in Galicia. This last act recorded of Bermudo (2 September 992) was the witnessing of the royal will and testament in León. In it Bermudo II confirmed all Oviedo's possessions and privileges and all the gifts and concessions which he had made to it. Specific mention is made of property formerly possessed by the bishop Bermudo but which had been despoiled by the petty nobleman Ecta Sarraciniz, who fought against Bermudo II while he was still reigning only in Galicia.