Paio Mendes
Encyclopedia
Paio Mendes was the Archbishop of Braga from 1118 until his death. He was an adherent of Afonso Henriques, Count of Portugal.
In 1136 he attended the council of Burgos
presided over by the legate Guido Pisano
. At the council, he appears to have accepted the election as Bishop of Mondoñedo, one of his suffragan sees, of Pelayo, the candidate endorsed by Diego Gelmírez
, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, in return for Diego's recognition of the Portuguese candidate, João Peculiar, as Bishop of Oporto, a diocese over which he had up until then wielded much influence. Paio also witnessed the granting of an indulgence to the members of the Confraternity of Belchite
.
On 4 July 1137 Afonso Henriques signed a treaty recognising himself as a vassal of Alfonso VII of León
, a document to which Paio was a witness. The archbishop then remained with the Leonese court as it visited Santiago de Compostela
, where he signed a royal charter. Before the end of October he was dead and succeeded by João Peculiar.
In 1136 he attended the council of 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...
presided over by the legate Guido Pisano
Guido Pisano
Guido Pisano was a prelate and diplomat from Pisa. He probably belonged to the family of the counts of Caprona, and was promoted to the College of Cardinals and appointed to the deaconry of Santi Cosma e Damiano by Pope Innocent II on 4 March 1132. Between 10 and 11 December 1146 he was created...
. At the council, he appears to have accepted the election as Bishop of Mondoñedo, one of his suffragan sees, of Pelayo, the candidate endorsed by 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...
, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, in return for Diego's recognition of the Portuguese candidate, João Peculiar, as Bishop of Oporto, a diocese over which he had up until then wielded much influence. Paio also witnessed the granting of an indulgence to the members of the Confraternity of Belchite
Confraternity of Belchite
The Confraternity of Belchite was an "experimental" community of knights founded in 1122 by Alfonso the Battler, king of Aragon and Navarre, and lasting until shortly after 1136. Members could enlist permanently or for a set time, vowing "never to live at peace with the pagans but to devote all...
.
On 4 July 1137 Afonso Henriques signed a treaty recognising himself as a vassal of Alfonso VII of León
Alfonso VII of León
Alfonso VII , born Alfonso Raimúndez, called the Emperor , became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126. Alfonso first used the title Emperor of All Spain, alongside his mother Urraca, once his mother vested him with the direct rule of Toledo in 1116...
, a document to which Paio was a witness. The archbishop then remained with the Leonese court as it visited 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...
, where he signed a royal charter. Before the end of October he was dead and succeeded by João Peculiar.