María Soliño facts for kids
María Soliño (born 1551 – died after 1617) was a woman from Galicia. She worked as a fisher and owned land. She became a famous victim of the Spanish Inquisition, a powerful religious court.
Early Life
María Soliño was born in Cangas, Pontevedra in 1551. She married a fisherman named Pedro Barba. They had children together. María also inherited several farms. Her family became quite well-off from fishing and farming. This made some people jealous because of their social background.
The Accusation
In 1617, her hometown of Cangas was attacked by pirates. During this attack, her husband was killed. This made María very sad and confused. The pirate attack caused a lot of damage to the town. After this event, some people in the town were accused of witchcraft.
María was a wealthy widow. She was accused of being a witch. She later said she was guilty. Many people believe she was accused because she was wealthy. The authorities might have wanted to take her property.
Trial and Fate
María Soliño was treated very badly and put in prison. She was described as old, weak, and confused. She said she was guilty during her trial. She was told her property would be taken away. She would also go to prison and face a physical punishment.
We do not know exactly when María Soliño died. She might have died soon after her trial. There are no records that show her punishment actually happened. Today, she is seen as a symbol of strength for the people of her region.
In Popular Culture
María Soliño's life was shown in a 2020 film. The movie is called María Solinha (film). It was directed by Ignacio Vilar.
