Guirandana de Lay facts for kids

Guirandana de Lay (died 1461) was a Spanish healer. She was accused of being the leader of a group of people believed to be witches near Villanúa, Spain. Even though Guirandana saw herself as someone who helped people get better, she was accused of causing harm to others. A court in Jaca, Spain, found her guilty.

About Guirandana

Guirandana de Lay lived in Villanúa, a town in northern Spain. Her name, "de Lay," suggests she might have moved to Spain from a town called Lay-Lamidou in France. This town is located on the other side of the Pyrenees mountains. Her mother, Vicienta de Lay, is also thought to have moved from southern France to northern Spain. Because of this, both women were seen as foreigners in Spain.

Women in Aragon

During that time in the highlands near Aragon, Spain, women like Guirandana who were single and earned their own living were sometimes accused of witchcraft. These women often worked as herbalists (using plants for medicine), midwives (helping with births), or other health-related jobs. In Spain, a witch was often described as an older woman who was believed to be able to cause harm using magic.

The word witch first appeared in official documents in Aragon in 1396. However, these documents did not clearly say who counted as a witch, even though many people were later accused.

The Accusations

Guirandana de Lay was believed to be the leader of a group known as the Witches of Villanúa. People thought this group met in secret places that were believed to have special powers, like the caves of Las Güixas. Many years later, other women like Gracia Del Valle and Narbona Dacal (who were executed in 1498) were also thought to be part of the same group.

The process against Guirandana began on March 12, 1461, in Jaca. She was accused of several crimes. The very next day, on March 13, 1461, Guirandana de Lay was taken to Jaca and put in prison. She then had a trial with a court of seven men. The person bringing the charges against her said she had caused harm to others and practiced witchcraft. Guirandana's mother, Vicienta de Lay, was also accused. At the end of the trial, the judge decided that Guirandana was guilty.

Official records from the trial say that Guirandana's belongings were to be taken and sold to pay for the court costs. The records do not clearly state the exact date or place where her sentence was carried out. However, experts believe she was executed in Jaca in late March 1461.

Images for kids

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  The cathedral room in the caves of Las Güixas near Villanúa, Spain.

See also

In Spanish: Guirandana de Lay para niños