Gil Aires Moniz

Gil Aires Moniz (b. in Algarve, at Faro) was an honoured man at the time of King João I of Portugal and a "Escrivão da Puridade" (furthermore, a Secretary) of the 2nd Constable of Portugal Nuno Álvares Pereira, and some say also his relative. Perhaps born into the Moniz noble family, it is not known if he is of the same ones. His connection to the main branch is, however, currently unknown. Barreiros, a Genealogist, does not nominate him, in his "Livro Ms.", more than by "Gil Aires", and says at the margins these words: "And of Maria Trabuca and of one from Alegrete, who seems they want to say he was their son"; and then, after nominating his children below, he says so: "All of these were called themselves Moniz, after their father was put into honour."; and says another information he was born in Alegrete, the one in Coruche or in Portalegre, son of a man who lived at the same village. He was buried at his Chapel of Our Lady of Piety of the Carmo Convent, in Lisbon, and there he nominates himself "Escrivão da Puridade do Condestável".

Married to Maria Pires, he had four children:
* Diogo Gil Moniz
* Vasco Gil Moniz
* Rui Gil Moniz
* Leonor Gil Moniz (or Leonor Moniz and formerly Leonor Gil), married as his second wife to Fernão de Sousa, o Labruja, son of João de Sousa (descendant of Afonso III of Portugal and Madragana) and wife Beatriz de Almeida and widow with female issue of Maria Rodrigues de Castelo-Branco, and had issue still extant

References

* Manuel João da Costa Felgueiras Gaio, "Nobiliário das Famílias de Portugal", Tomo Vigésimo Primeiro, Título de Monizes, § 17, § 18 e § 19
* Various Authors, "Armorial Lusitano", p. 370-2, Lisbon, 1961
* Dom Augusto Romano Sanches de Baena e Farinha de Almeida Portugal Sousa e Silva, 1.º Visconde de Sanches de Baena, "Archivo Heraldico-Genealógico", Volume II, p. CXV, Lisbon, 1872
* Cristóvão Alão de Morais, "Pedatura Lusitana", Volume I (reformulated edition), p. 668-70