Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at Iglesia de Sancti Spiritus (Salamanca); see its history for attribution.

[citation needed] The convent was founded in 1268 by Martín Alfonso, illegitimate son of Alfonso IX of León and Teresa Gil de Soverosa, and his wife, María Méndez de Sousa,[1][2] who in turn ceded it to the Order of Santiago in 1269.

[2] This convent or monastery was one of the two most outstanding hospital foundations that the Order of Santiago owned in the kingdom of León, followed by the town and castle of Castrotorafe, a depopulated municipality located in the current province of Zamora.

[2] Although the kings of Castile did not donate any possessions to the monastery, they confirmed its privileges on several occasions and protected it during its conflicts with the Order of Santiago or with the council of the city of Salamanca.

[2] The convent of Santa Ana welcomed the wives of the knights from Salamanca who were leaving for war, which is why the nuns adopted the name of Commanders.