carvajal y mendoza was born in jaraicejo, spain. she was born into a family of wealth and royal lineage. her father was francisco de carvajal, whose father was a respected theologian and enthusiast of the jesuit order. carvajal's mother was maria de mendoza, who was a descendant of one of the most recognized families in spain. however, at the age of six, both of her parents died of illness, and she was placed under the care of her aunt maria chacon, who was a governess in madrid. she would live with her aunt until the age of ten.