Ana de Mendoza e de la Cerda
Encyclopedia
Doña
Ana de Mendoza y de la Cerda, Princess of Eboli, Duchess of Pastrana, (in full), (29 June 1540 – 2 February 1592) was a Spanish aristocrat
, suo jure
2nd Princess of Mélito, 2nd Duchess of Francavilla and 3rd Countess of Aliano. She was considered one of Spain's greatest beauties, despite having lost an eye in a mock duel with a page when she was young.
, Countess of Mélito and Duchess of Pastrana, married Rui Gomes da Silva, 1st Prince of Éboli
when she was twelve years old (1552), by recommendation of Prince Philip
. Her husband was Prince of Éboli and minister to the King. She was considered one of the more accomplished women of her time, and although she had just one eye, Ana was regarded as one of the most beautiful ladies in Spain.
Ana had ten children by this marriage:
(1540–1615). They were accused of betraying state secrets which led to her arrest in 1579. Ana died 13 years later in prison on 2 February 1592.
. She is also the subject of Kate O'Brien
's novel That Lady, and the 1955 film adaptation of O'Brien's novel, That Lady
. La Tuerta, a stage play charting the life of Ana de Mendoza was performed at Bedlam Theatre as part of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2008. Julia Ormond
played her in La Conjura de El Escorial
(2008) and Belén Rueda
in the TV film La Princesa de Éboli (2010).
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
Ana de Mendoza y de la Cerda, Princess of Eboli, Duchess of Pastrana, (in full), (29 June 1540 – 2 February 1592) was a Spanish aristocrat
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
, suo jure
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
2nd Princess of Mélito, 2nd Duchess of Francavilla and 3rd Countess of Aliano. She was considered one of Spain's greatest beauties, despite having lost an eye in a mock duel with a page when she was young.
Early years
Ana, also known as Princess of EboliEboli
Eboli is a town and comune of Campania, southern Italy, in the province of Salerno, on the south edge of the hills overlooking the valley of the Sele....
, Countess of Mélito and Duchess of Pastrana, married Rui Gomes da Silva, 1st Prince of Éboli
Rui Gomes da Silva, 1st Prince of Éboli
Don Rui Gomes da Silva, 1st Prince of Éboli and 1st Duke of Pastrana and Estremera, and iure uxoris Prince of Mélito, Duke of Francavilla and Count of Aliano . He was a Portuguese noble and one of King Philip's main advisers...
when she was twelve years old (1552), by recommendation of Prince Philip
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. Her husband was Prince of Éboli and minister to the King. She was considered one of the more accomplished women of her time, and although she had just one eye, Ana was regarded as one of the most beautiful ladies in Spain.
Ana had ten children by this marriage:
- Diego (c.1558–1563)
- Ana de Silva y Mendoza (1560–1610) married 1572 to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia;
- Rodrigo de Silva y Mendoza (1562–1596), 2nd duke of Pastrana;
- Pedro de Silva y Mendoza (c. 1563);
- Diego de Silva y Mendoza (1564–1630), 1st marquis of Alenquer
- Ruy de Silva y Mendoza (1565–), 1st marquis of La Eliseda
- Fernando de Silva y Mendoza, later Pedro González de Mendoza (1570–1639)
- Maria de Mendoza y Maria de Silva (c. 1570)
- Ana de Silva y Mendoza (1573–1614)
Later intrigue
After her husband's death in 1573, she spent three years in a convent, but returned to public life in 1576, forming an alliance at Court with the King's undersecretary of state, Antonio PérezAntonio Pérez
]Antonio Pérez was a Spanish statesman, secretary of king Philip II of Spain.- Early years :Antonio Perez was born in Madrid in 1540. In 1542 he was legalized as son of Gonzalo Pérez, Secretary of the Council of State of king Charles I of Spain . Most probably Antonio was indeed the son of...
(1540–1615). They were accused of betraying state secrets which led to her arrest in 1579. Ana died 13 years later in prison on 2 February 1592.
Appearances in fiction
There was a character called Princess Eboli based on Ana in Schiller's play Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien, and Verdi's opera Don CarlosDon Carlos
Don Carlos is a five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French language libretto by Camille du Locle and Joseph Méry, based on the dramatic play Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien by Friedrich Schiller...
. She is also the subject of Kate O'Brien
Kate O'Brien
Kate O'Brien , was an Irish novelist and playwright.-Biography:Kathleen "Kate" Mary Louie O'Brien was born in Limerick City at the end of the 19th century. Following the death of her mother when she was five, she became a boarder at Laurel Hill convent...
's novel That Lady, and the 1955 film adaptation of O'Brien's novel, That Lady
That Lady
That Lady is a 1955 film directed by Terence Young. It stars Olivia de Havilland, Gilbert Roland and Paul Scofield.The film is based on the 1946 historical novel by Kate O'Brien, which was published in North America under the title For One Sweet Grape. The novel was also produced as a play in 1949....
. La Tuerta, a stage play charting the life of Ana de Mendoza was performed at Bedlam Theatre as part of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2008. Julia Ormond
Julia Ormond
Julia Karin Ormond is an English actress who has appeared in film and television and on stage.-Early life and education:...
played her in La Conjura de El Escorial
La Conjura de El Escorial
La Conjura de El Escorial is a 2008 Spanish historical drama film directed by Antonio del Real and starring Jason Isaacs, Julia Ormond, Jordi Mollà, Pilar Bastardés and Jürgen Prochnow. It is set in the reign of Philip II of Spain and takes its name from the Escorial palace.-Cast:*Jason Isaacs ......
(2008) and Belén Rueda
Belén Rueda
María Belén Rueda García-Porrero is a Spanish actress. She is best known for her roles as Lucía in the TV series Los Serrano, as Julia in The Sea Inside, for which she won a Goya Award and as Laura in The Orphanage for which she received another Goya Award nomination...
in the TV film La Princesa de Éboli (2010).