Martim Moniz
"Martim Moniz, in the Castle of Lisbon, dies in glory by lodging his own body in the gateway that still bears his name today", by Pereira Cão
Born
Kingdom of Portugal
Died1147
Lisbon
NationalityPortuguese
OccupationKnight

Martim Moniz (Portuguese pronunciation: [mɐɾˈtĩ muˈniʃ]; died 1147) was a Portuguese knight of noble birth, and famous figure in the Siege of Lisbon in 1147.

According to legend, Martim Moniz was a knight participating in the Christian invasion force, led by king Afonso I of Portugal, in the Siege of Lisbon, during the Reconquista. At one point in the siege of São Jorge Castle, he saw the Moors closing the castle doors. He led an attack on the doors, and sacrificed himself by lodging his own body in the doorway,[1] preventing the defenders from fully closing the door.

This act allowed time for his fellow soldiers to arrive and secure the door, leading to the eventual capture of the castle. Martim Moniz was killed in the incident. In his honor, the entrance was dubbed Porta de Martim Moniz (Gate of Martim Moniz).

There are currently several monuments and parks named after Martim Moniz in Lisbon. One of Lisbon's metro stations is named after him, the Martin Moniz station. The station features a stylized graphic depiction of the event on its walls.

One of his sons, Pedro Martins, Lord of the Tower of Vasconcelos, was the ancestor of the prominent Vasconcelos family.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Saraiva, José Hermano (1995). "Martim Moniz, uma lenda que "ajudou" a conquistar Lisboa". RTP Ensina (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  2. ↑ Freire, Anselmo Braamcamp (1921). Brasões da Sala de Sintra, Livro Primeiro. Robarts - University of Toronto. Coimbra: Coimbra : Imprensa da Universidade. pp. 336–337.
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