María Soliño facts for kids
María Soliño (born 1551 – died sometime after 1617) was a woman from Galicia, Spain. She was a fisherwoman and also owned land. She is known as a famous victim of the Spanish Inquisition, a powerful religious court from the past.
María was born in Cangas, Pontevedra in 1551. She married a fisherman named Pedro Barba, and they had children. She also inherited several farms. Her family became quite successful as farmers and fishermen. In 1617, her town was attacked by pirates. During this attack, her husband was killed. This sad event made María very confused and upset. The pirate attack badly damaged the town and led to a time when people were accused of witchcraft.
Because María was a wealthy widow, she was accused of practicing witchcraft. She even confessed to it, but many believe the real reason for the accusation was her wealth. The authorities might have wanted to take her property. She was tortured and put in prison. She was found guilty and sentenced to lose her property, stay in prison, and receive a physical punishment. She was described as old, weak, and confused. We don't know exactly when she died, but it might have been around the time of her sentencing. There are no records saying she actually received her punishment. María Soliño has since become an important symbol for the local people.
Her story was told in a 2020 film called María Solinha (film), directed by Ignacio Vilar.
See also
In Spanish: María Soliño para niños
