The plot is loosely based on the historical figure María de Padilla, the mistress of Pedro the Cruel, King of Castile.

The first 20th century performance, and UK premiere, took place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 8 April 1973 by Opera Rara with Janet Price in the lead role, Margreta Elkins, Christian du Plessis and Gunnar Drago, with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta conducted by Kenneth Montgomery.

[1] The American premiere took place in Stony Brook on 23 April 1983 by the Long Island Opera Society (an uncut concert performance of the Naples version) with Marilyn Brustadt in the title role, conducted by David Lawton.

When he sneaks into her room disguised as Mendez, Maria tells him that she knows his true identity and demands marriage to save her honour.

After their elopement, a faction of the Don Pedro's court wants him marry Bianca, a Bourbon princess, in order to avoid a civil war.