SALDAÑA Diego b. Abt 0890 Condado de Castilla, Reino de Asturias d. Abt 0951 Condado de Castilla, Reino de Asturias: Freeman-Smith Family Tree

Abt 0890 - Abt 0951 (61 years)

Name	SALDAÑA Diego
Birth	Abt 0890	Condado de Castilla, Reino de Asturias
Gender	Male
Death	Abt 0951	Condado de Castilla, Reino de Asturias
Notes	Diego Muñoz, known as Didacus Munnioz in medieval documents, was the first Count of Saldaña, and possibly, Count of Carrión. He was born in the last third of the 9th Century and died around 0951, in the area of present-day Palencia, i.e., in the County of Castile, Kingdom of Asturias (Condado de Castilla, Reino de Asturias), when he was born, and in the County of Castile (Condado de Castilla), when he died (Palencia, County of Castile was part of the Kingdom of León in his lifetime, between 0910-0932). [1] His birth date has been estimated @ around 0890, based on the information that he was married by the year 0920 (estimated to be 30 years old). His second son, Gómez Díaz, was born around 0925 [2] which seems to support the estimation as well. Although the medievalist Fray Justo Pérez de Urbel considered him the son of Munio and Gulatrudia, nobles from the area of Liébana, the academic Julia Montenegro's investigations have shown that he was a son of Munio Gómez, a noble whose title and lands originated northwest of present-day Palencia. [1] Family Tree Banu Gómez Munio had three sons, whose mother's name is not known: [1] Diego Muñoz Gómez Muñoz, a Count, succeeded his brother in the territories linked to him, governing them briefly in 959-960, after which he was succeeded by one of Diego Muñoz's sons. Osorio Muñoz, the third brother, and also a Count, appears throughout the reign of Ramiro II as one of the most important figures and is even qualified in diplomas as primus palatii (leading feudal lord). Note that the parents who appeared originally for Diego in WikiTree, Muno (Castile) Castilla (0880-0916, acc WT) and Hermesinda Menenez (0886-0924, acc WT) have been removed (no other children were attributed to them in WT at the time of the change). Sign used by Diego Muñoz of Banu Gómez Diego was one of the most important figures in the Kingdom of León in the first half of the 10th Century. He managed to consolidate family power thanks to an intelligent marriage policy, and to the distance he maintained from and the obedience he gave to King Ramiro II. He was able to establish a solid power base for his family, the Banu Gómez, achieving almost the same goals as the powerful Count of Castilla, Fernán González. [3] His first validated appearance in the documentation dates from 0936, but it is possible that his presence was felt earlier. Although his name is not mentioned expressly, he may have participated in the 0932 rebellion of the Banu Gómez and the Ansúrez against Ramiro II. The rebellion was an attempt to put Alfonso IV, who abdicated in 0931, on the Leonese throne again. The action paints a clear picture of the power these individual families wielded, despite the fact they were finally defeated by Ramiro II. That same year Ramiro blinded his brother Alfonso IV and captured the three sons of Fruela II, Alfonso, Ramiro and Ordoño, in Asturias, who were blinded as well. [4] Apparently, the Banu Gómez dodged the harsh punishment of Ramiro II because two years later, presumably under the leadership of Diego Muñoz, they went to Osma to face a Muslim incursion, together with King Ramiro and Castilian Count Fernán González. [5] Diego would fall out of grace again with the King, in 943, because of the incursions he and his traditional ally, Count Fernando González de Castilla, made breaking the peace with the Andalusians and invading the border, for booty and captives. He was incarcerated from spring to autumn, but quickly recovered royal favor, when he pledged obedience again in 944. [1] Reconquista by Century Diego was married by the year 920 to Tegridia Unknown whose ancestry is unknown. The union produced at least six children: [1] [3] Munio Díaz who was likely the first-born and who probably inherited his father's lands from his uncle, but who disappeared around the same date, during the civil war between Sancho I and Ordoño IV (0958-0960). There are arguments, however, that he actually died before this period, closer to 0940. It is not known if he married or had children. [6] Gómez Díaz, Conde de Saldaña y Liébana, called on to replace his father and uncle. He married Muniadona Fernández, the daughter of the powerful Fernán González "Conde de Castilla y de Álava" de Castilla. The marriage guaranteed the alliance of both Houses, Saldaña & Lara. Count Osorio Diaz, who married Sancha Sánchez, daughter of Count Sancho Muñíz and Ildonza Fróilaz. Sancha's lineage through her mother was one of the oldest and most powerful in Galicia. The union would greatly favor the House of Saldaña, since in the rebellions of Diego Muñoz's beloved grandson, García Gómez, part of the Galician nobility represented by Osorio would support García. Elvira Díaz, wife of Count Fernando Bermúdez and mother of Jimena Fernández, Queen of Pamplona. Count Fernando Díaz, husband of Mansuara Fáfilaz, daughter of Count Fáfila Oláliz, titled landowner of Tierra de Campos near Sahagún. These lands would broaden the possessions of the family. Guntrodo Díaz, also known as Gontroda. Her husband was Ablavel Godestéiz. [3] She and Ablavel appear in a donation made 01 Jun 0988. [7] Research Notes Regarding the Name Fields for Diego Muñoz Diego's First Names have been left as "Diego", his Other Nicknames changed to his Title, "Conde de Saldaña", his Middle Name, originally "Muñoz", left blank, and his CLN changed to "Muñoz". His LNAB "Saldaña" has been left as is, in the understanding that it was included originally as such in line with "Name Fields for European Aristocrats" guidance. Note that although he was the first Count of Saldaña, the number "I" has not been included in his Preferred FN, because the number is in relation to his title, not to his name. Regarding his father Munio Gómez Munio Gómez, known as Abolmondar Albo, is very likely the son of the progenitor of the Beni Gómez or Banu Gómez lineage founded in the middle of the 9th century, whose relevance would allow him to name his own successor among his descendants. He was possibly the son of the "Gómez, Lord of Mesaneka" (Mixancas, Álava), mentioned in reference to the incursion of Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba in Castilian territory in 865 in the Battle of Morcuera. The Count (whoever he was) was captured and became the Andalusians' prisoner. According to Margarita Torres Sevilla, from this campaign, the Muslims would return with numerous captives, including Gómez himself (initiator of the Banu Gómez family) and his son Munio Gómez, the father of Diego Muñoz, who, due to their lineage, would be under the direct protection of the emir, and that is why they were known as the Banu Gómez. This would help to understand the close relationship between the Banu Gómez and Córdoba. [1] [5] Certainly the cognomen adopted by the family, Banu Gómez, the kunya, Munio Gómez used, Abu al-Mundhir (Arabic: أبو المنذر‎) and the excellent relations this Leonese House maintained with the Caliphate during the 10th Century (Diego Muñoz's grandson, García Gómez, would be an ally of Almanzor), bespeak a close alliance with Córdoba, perhaps forged while Munio and his father Gómez were prisoners in Al-Andalus. [1] On the other hand, the names among the first Beni Gómez are indicative of close relationships with the Castilian and Galician noble houses, especially with the family of Count Diego Rodríguez and that of Count Hermenegildo Gutiérrez (Hermenegildo Guterres), who repopulated Coimbra. [1] Merge Jun 3 2022 Regarding the merge performed Jun 3 2022 with Muñoz_de_Saldaña_y_Gutierrez_de_Coimbra-1 into Saldaña-21, Gómez-3433 (Munio Gómez de Mixancas Gómez b. 0835-00-00 d. 0895-00-00), was carried over from Muñoz_de_Saldaña_y_Gutierrez_de_Coimbra-1 to Saldaña-21 as his father, despite date descrepancies. Sources ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 _ Torres Sevilla, Margarita, "Diego Muñoz", Real Academia de la Historia, Diccionario Biográfico electrónico (www.rah.es) ↑ _ Torres Sevilla-Quiñones, Margarita, "Gómez Díaz", Real Academia de la Historia, Diccionario Biográfico electrónico (www.rah.es) ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 _ WIKIPEDIA: Diego Muñoz de Saldaña ↑ _ WIKIPEDIA: Ramiro II ↑ 5.0 5.1 _ Website Historia del Condado de Castilla: Iglesia Aparicio, Javier, "Diego Muñoz, primer conde de Saldaña", Historia del Condado de Castilla, 15 May 2017 (https://www.condadodecastilla.es/) ↑ _ Website Historia del Condado de Castilla: Iglesia Aparicio, Javier, "Munio Díaz, conde de Saldaña", 17 May 2017 (https://www.condadodecastilla.es/) ↑ _ del Ser Quijano, Gregorio, Colección diplomática del monasterio de Santa María de Otero de Dueñas (León) (854-1037), Volume 20, University of Salamanca, 1994, p183.
Person ID	I59766	Freeman-Smith
Last Modified	27 Jan 2026

Father	GÓMEZ Munio Gómez, b. Abt 0865, Spain d. Aft 0910, Spain (Age > 46 years)
Relationship	natural
Family ID	F347542	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family UNKNOWN Tegridia, b. 0900 d. Abt 0960, Condado de Castilla, Reino de Asturias (Age ~ 59 years)

Marriage 0920 Condado de Castilla, Reino de León

Children

	1. SALDAÑA Elvira Díaz, b. 0930, Castile, Leon, Castilla-Leon, Spain d. Sep 0975, Castile, Leon, Castilla-Leon, Spain (Age ~ 45 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	2. SALDAÑA Gómez Díaz, b. 0937, Saldaña de Ayllón, Segovia, Castilla-Leon, Spain d. 0986, Saldaña de Ayllón, Segovia, Castilla-Leon, Spain (Age ~ 49 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]

Family ID F26538 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 27 Jan 2026