L'Illustration, No. 2502, 7 février 1891

A flamboyant figure looms over mid‑nineteenth‑century Spain: a nun who rose from a humble farming family to become the talk of Madrid’s streets and courts. Claiming miraculous wounds that echo the crucifixion, she attracted crowds of the devout, the curious, and the politically restless, while her brother secured a place at the royal court. The fervor surrounding her “miracles” soon drew the attention of rival factions fighting for the throne, turning a convent into a stage for intrigue.

When the government finally intervened, the nun faced a dramatic trial for “fanatical imposture” and accusations of stirring civil unrest. Witnesses described night‑time disappearances, strange healings, and a charismatic presence that swayed both peasants and aristocrats. Listeners will be drawn into the clash of faith, ambition, and power that defined her controversial legacy, set against the turbulent backdrop of Spain’s Carlist struggles.