ABSTRACT
Ana de Mendoza y de la Cerda, better known as the Princess of Eboli, is, and was, probably the most notorious Spanish woman of the sixteenth century. The chapter aims to strip away the myth to try to discover the real person, whilst being conscious, of course, that Ana played a part in the myth-making through the careful creation and control of her own image. It concentrates on the following myths associated with Ana de Mendoza: The first charge is relatively easy to deal with: there is absolutely no evidence at all that Ana and Felipe were ever involved in any sort of affair. The discovery of hundreds of notarial documents that chart the princess’ financial and estate dealings shows very clearly that she was a good and competent administrator who took her task seriously. The fact that it has turned up among papers once held by Vazquez indicates that the king ignored her plea.
