Eleno de Céspedes, a surgeon and former soldier in sixteenth-century Spain, underwent a public trial by the Spanish Inquisition following a second marriage. Initially assigned female at birth, Céspedes lived as a man for years, navigating the complexities of gender and legal identity while practicing medicine within the Toledo Province.
Early Life and Initial Marriage
Born in 1545 in Alhama de Granada, Céspedes was the child of Francisca de Medina, an enslaved black Muslim woman, and Pero Hernández, a free Christian Castilian peasant. Although born into slavery, Céspedes gained freedom during childhood. At approximately fifteen or sixteen, Céspedes married a stonemason named Cristóbal Lombardo. This union lasted only months before Lombardo left while Céspedes was pregnant. After giving birth to a son, also named Cristóbal, Céspedes left the child with a friend to begin traveling across Spain.
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Céspedes eventually adopted the masculine name Eleno, began wearing men's clothing, and worked in various occupations, including tailoring and shepherding. Following a period of imprisonment after stabbing a pimp, Céspedes joined the military. Under the command of John of Austria, Céspedes participated in the suppression of the second Rebellion of the Alpujarras. During this period, Céspedes became literate and studied surgery, later training with a befriended surgeon in Madrid.
Legal Challenges and Medical Dispute
In 1584, Céspedes sought to marry María del Caño. After medical examinations by doctors—including Philip II's physician Francisco Díaz—attested to the presence of male genitalia, the marriage proceeded in 1586. However, neighbors later accused the couple of sodomy. During the subsequent trial, inconsistent medical testimony surfaced: some practitioners observed male anatomy, while midwives who performed internal examinations concluded Céspedes was female. The Inquisition examined claims regarding intersex conditions and the potential use of witchcraft to manipulate physical appearance.
Inquisition Verdict
The Inquisition acquitted Céspedes of charges related to witchcraft and sodomy but imposed a ten-year sentence for bigamy. Recognizing the value of the medical skills developed through years of practice, the authorities commuted the imprisonment to mandatory service in a public hospital. This allowed Céspedes to continue working as a surgeon, effectively serving the medical needs of the community while living under the scrutiny of the state.
Fast facts
- Born: 1545, Alhama de Granada, Spain
- Occupations: Tailor, soldier, surgeon
- First marriage spouse: Cristóbal Lombardo
- Second marriage spouse: María del Caño
- Military service: Second Rebellion of the Alpujarras
- Trial location: Toledo, Spain
- Died: After 1588
Questions readers ask
Why was Eleno de Céspedes arrested?
Céspedes was arrested in 1587 on charges of sodomy, bigamy, and witchcraft following an accusation regarding the validity of the marriage to María del Caño.
What was the outcome of the Inquisition trial?
Céspedes was sentenced to ten years of confinement for bigamy, which was commuted to service as a surgeon in a public hospital.
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