Rahel la Fermosa facts for kids

Rahel la Fermosa (Ladino for "Rachel the Beautiful"; originally Rahel Esra; c. 1165, Toledo – 1195, Toledo) was a Jewish woman who lived in Toledo, Spain in the twelfth century. She was the mistress of King Alfonso VIII of Castile, a Catholic Christian and husband of Eleanor of England, for almost seven years. Under her influence, a number of Spanish Jews were appointed to positions within the royal court. This led to discontent among the clergy and nobility. Rahel received the death penalty, together with her fellow Jews in the court, in the presence of the king himself.

Historical debate

This love-story, which had been relegated to the realm of fable by the Marquis de Mondejar and other Spanish literary historians, is related as a fact by Sancho IV around 1292. Given that the story is not mentioned in historical documents until then, modern scholars continue to debate the historical nature of Rahel and her relationship with the king.