The legend of Santa Maria de Cárquere – Resende

Where you ask who was, after all, the first king of Portugal.

We are talking about a story that dates back nine hundred years, more dust, less dust, when Portugal was still a mirage.

Alfonso VI of Castile and Leon, “Emperor of all Hispania”, had created the Condado Portucalense when his illegitimate daughter Teresa married Count Henry of Burgundy, offering it as a dowry to his daughter.

The Counts of Portucale ruled this corner of the Peninsula, vassals of the King of Castile.
Now a nobleman lived at court, Egas Moniz by name, belonging to the noble family of Ribadouro. A trustworthy man, he asked his masters to allow him the honour of being the future ruler’s tutor. And so it was that Afonso Henriques was born, the only surviving male descendant of Henrique and Teresa.

Poor Afonso! Some say that he was born weak, with crooked legs – the bad tongues even said that he had a hunchback. It was feared for his life.

Was this baby the future Count, the future military chief? What a future for the County! What great sadness!
Egas Moniz was deeply devoted to the little one. He was his tutor, friend, master of arms… His master’s welfare was his greatest concern. Devout to the Virgin Mary, he often prayed to her, asking for the health of the child he loved so much.

Afonso was about five years old when Egas dreamed about Our Lady. She commanded him:

-Go, Egas Moniz! Take Afonso to my little church in Cárquere (Resende) and there he will be cured!

Egas set out with the young infant, full of hope.

Having placed the little boy on the altar, he then sought out a hidden image of the Virgin, lit two candles and waited, murmuring his prayers.

Time, in that time without a clock, passes. Egas falls asleep, tired.

One of the candles falls. Startled, the infant rises with effort, avoiding the flames and the certain burn. Yes, he is cured, with the help of Our Lady.

And they return to court, master and servant.

The people rejoiced!!!! Count Henry, grateful for the grace granted, orders the construction of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Cárquere, next to the church.

Egas Moniz was the miracle worker. But was he more than that?

In the list of passing stories, it is said that the infant, frail and weak, did not survive his first childhood, leaving the domain without male heirs… And that Egas Moniz, whether or not in agreement with Count D. Henrique, exchanged the dead child for one of his own sons, thus ensuring the continuation of the Condado Portucalense…

Who knows?

It is known that “Afonso” grew up and became a man. Tall and strong, according to studies done on his tomb, it was said that his sword was very heavy and that no other could handle it.

And he did not want to be a Count! He wanted to be King! And, to that end, he fought against those of his own blood (?), with Egas Moniz always at his side.

As another account tells, at the height of the war for Portugal’s independence, Egas Moniz makes a knightly promise to the king of Castile and Leon, Afonso VII, on behalf of Afonso.

Afonso does not comply! So Egas Moniz and his family travelled to Toledo, presenting themselves to the King of Castile and Leon, all tied up in chains, offering their lives.

Alfonso VII, touched, forgave them… And the Moniz family returned to Portugal. To their king… or their close relative?
When Egas died, he was buried near his Paço de Sousa, Penafiel. Later, he was transferred to the interior of the monastery. It was then, to everyone’s astonishment, that the bones in his legs were seen to be extremely long, transforming him in the eyes of the people into a huge man, a true giant for his time.

Uncle or father of the first King of Portugal, Egas Moniz was undoubtedly a legendary man!