Resumen de Zeal for the Faith: a 16th-Century Account of a Spanish Martyr in Jerusalem
A relación de suceso published in Valencia in 1581 narrates the tale of an anonymous Spanish woman who travels as a pilgrim to Jerusalem, where she openly preaches against Islam and is executed. This article situates the story within its historical context while examining how the demands of genre transformed a real occurrence into a tale of exemplary martyrdom. At a time when Spanish Christians perceived themselves as under siege, the relación offers an example of acceptable Christian valor in the face of implacable opposition.
