Dona Barbara of Seville was a Spanish noblewoman who lived in the 16th century. She is best known for her role in the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, where she is portrayed as a strong-willed and independent woman. She is also remembered for her involvement in the Spanish Inquisition, where she was an active participant in the persecution of heretics. She is remembered as a symbol of female strength and resilience.