Martim Sanches


Martim Sanches, known in Spanish as Martín Sánchez de Portugal, was a Portuguese nobleman who, during the reign of Alfonso II, was exiled to the Kingdom of León.

Family

Martim was an illegitimate son of Sancho I of Portugal and Maria Aires de Fornelos, who was a daughter of and Mor Pires, who later married Gil Vasques de Soverosa. He had a full sister named Urraca. In 1175, together with her children by Sancho and her husband Gil, Mor was present at Santo Tirso Monastery to make a gift to her relatives, Marina Pais, and Marina's husband, Vasco Pires.
Martim married Elo Pérez de Castro, daughter of Pedro Fernández de Castro and Jimena Gómez de Manzanedo. They had no children together before their divorce. In 1205, Elo married Viscount Guerau IV de Cabrera.
In April 1207, Sancho I granted the villages and churches of Vila Nova das Infantas and of to Martim and his sister. In January 1226, Martim sold half of his share to Santo Tirso. Urraca confirmed the charter of sale.

Career

King Alfonso IX of León entrusted the exiled Martim with the government of Galicia. During his tenure, he had to contend with an invasion of Galicia by his half-brother, Alfonso II of Portugal. Martim gathered an army and invaded Entre-Douro-e-Minho using scorched earth tactics, probably incited by the archbishop of Braga,.