Marcelina Castelú

Other names/titles:
Gender: F
Ethnic origin: Unknown

Biographical details

From Potosí, Bolivia, she was born at the end of the 18th century. After a bloody battle in Potosí, the patriots captured a cannon in the plaza, but were unable to fire it because it had no fuse. She pulled off her petticoat, used it as a fuse and fired the canon killing several royalists. She is said to have animated the patriots by her example and they eventually took Potosí in 1815. She was given the title "la gallo valiente". When she died she is said to have been wrapped in a flag, with a rifle in her hand. (Urquidi, 223-224)

Life Events

Other

1815

She fired a canon at royalist troops in Potosí, possibly in 1815.

References

Urquidi, José Macedonio, (1918), Bolivianas ilustres, heroinas, escritoras, artistas, Tomo I

Publications

There is no writing by this subject in the database.

Links

Resource id #21 (98)

Gendering Latin American Independence

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