It is the story of a woman who dreamed of stories that were happening, prophetic dreams and everything related to the world of dreams have intrigued the human being since ancient times, but in the time of Lucretia de León, this gift, or this gift, considered her a witch.
Such people, though very defamed, have also attracted the interest of kings, governments, politicians and power institutions of all kinds. Sorcerers, alchemists and even soothsayers have always been part of any true cut of respect.
- The story of Lucretia de León reflects three realities: the magical world of prophetic dreams.
- In which he has always lived.
- The political manipulation he suffered and the tragic end that awaited him.
Lucrecia de León was born in Madrid, in 1567, into a family of common origin, his upbringing was based on religion and preparation for marriage, but a stroke of fate caused him, thanks to his father’s work as a court scholar, Lucretia to learn Lee and write.
Since childhood, Lucretia de León has had prophetic dreams, awakening even the curiosity of the king’s relatives, however, his dreams frightened his father so much that he came to abandon him for it.
In Spain at the time, the agreement on dreams resulting from the Council of Latran, which concluded that prophetic dreams were messages that God sent through enlightened people, had a great influence.
The Church was very interested in investigating these types of people and interpreting their dreams, which were generally used to strengthen support for the monarch.
Philip II was known for many things, but his taste for the hidden, for magic, for relics, rituals and prophecies was perhaps his darkest side.
Philip II’s court was, at the time, a haven of intrigue and tension, the king had sent his personal secretary to prison, and had also ordered the poisoning and detention of other important members of his entourage.
Corruption scandals were constantly made public, and the Castilian people suffered from the wars of their kings and the illusions of greatness. The conspiratorial groups were everywhere.
There were very influential figures who recounted the events in Lucretia’s life, including Miguel Piedrola, a descendant of the last kings of Navarre and a former infant who had formed a large group of conspirators against the king.
Another was Alonso de Mendoza, brother of the Viceroy of Mexico, a priest associated with the Cathedral of Toledo who aspired to be bishop and belonged to the group of the conspirators of Piedrola.
In addition, Mendoza was obsessed with the world of prophetic dreams and spent huge sums of money on his research, both were very impressed with Lucretia’s dreams and decided to start a daily recording of them, with their political interpretations.
Lucretia foretold in detail an imminent invasion of Spain by the French, English, Turks and Moors, which would forever wipe out the Austrian kingdom, king and dynasty.
She predicted that the only ones who would survive the invasion would be those who would take refuge between the walls of Toledo or in the caves of Ocaia.
He also predicted the defeat of the Invincible Armed, sent by Philip II against England. Piedrola is said to have built caves near the Tagus that would serve as a kind of bunker during the invasion.
When the Invincible Navy was defeated, Mendoza himself ordered the expansion of the caves.
At this point, the king orders the Inquisition to open a case against Lucretia and the conspirators, so the files of her dreams were confiscated and during interrogations Lucretia claimed that it was not she who had interpreted her dreams and denied that they had political content.
She defended her version even under torture, yet she was condemned for agreeing with the devil and, from that moment on, her leadership was lost forever.
Lucretia was a woman who had a special gift, known and respected in classical antiquity, though relegated to mythology, a gift that people of that time feared and desired so much.
When her gift ceased to serve the power machine, Lucretia de León ceased to be considered an oracle and began to be called a witch.
Then, once again, history leaves us with a dark past, which does not seem to have completely disappeared, the Inquisition was one of the institutions that cost the most lives, and always did so with the protection of power.
Lucrecia de León learned about the protection of power and, subsequently, the rejection for having no more “utility”. However, he remained true to his gift and truth, though it cost him his life.