Pero Mendes da Fonseca
Trovador medieval

Biographical Note:

Portuguese troubadour, belonging to a middle nobility family, established in the region of Resende and Lafões, active in the second half of the 13th century. Son of a second marriage of one Mem Gonçalves da Fonseca, he is documented from 1275 to, at least, 12971. One of the documents bearing witness attests his connection to the magnate and troubadour Dom João Peres de Aboim, central figure in the court of Afonso III. His marriage to Mor Martins, nephew of the powerful royal chancellor Dom Estêvão Anes, equally proves his relation with the Afonso III’s circle. As for the rest, it is also possible that Pero Mendes, at some point in his life, travelled to Castille, where he may have composed the satirical song he directs to a master of the Order of Santiago (Order of which, it should be said, one of his sons was a member).

References

1 Pizarro, José Augusto (1999), Linhagens medievais portuguesas: genealogias e estratégias 1279-1325, vol. I, Porto, Centro de Estudos de Genealogia, Heráldica e História da Família da Universidade Moderna, p. 486.
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