Dos hermanas ante el tribunal de la Inquisición : los procesos contra Mencía y María Álvarez (1500-1501)

Abstract

The present work tries to analyze the processes against Mencía Álvarez and María Álvarez. They were sisters, and both of them were between the followers of Inés Esteban, known as the Moza de Herrera. Inés stimulated a messianic movement that developed around Herrera del Duque; it did that many judeoconverts were killed in the inquisitorial bonfires, between them sisters Álvarez. Both of them exemplify the situation of many of the followers of Inés Esteban: they were reconciled; they belonged to a family narrowly linked with criptojudaism; they developed a quite elementary practice of Judaism and they had a blind faith in the prophecies that were promising them a better life.