An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence

María Josefa Díaz de Girardot

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Exile 1814

Gender:Female

Ethnic origen: White

Events:

Connections:

Biography:
She was probably born in Antioquia, daughter of Juan Antonio Díaz and Magdalena Hoyos. Her father was Regidor of Antioquia. She was cousin of Francisco Antonio Zea (whose parents were her father's sister and husband). Luis Girardot arrived in Colombia in 1772 and married María Teresa Larrota of Tunja, their son Pedro Girardot, died in battle under Nariño. Girardot married Josefa Díaz in Antioquia in 1789. They lived in Honda until 1802 when they moved to Bogotá. She supported the independence cause from the outset and Girardot presented himself and offered his wealth to the cause. She was imprisoned by Nariño (in 1811?) due to her fierce opposition to the centralist cause. Bolívar visited the Girardot house when he arrived in Bogotá in January 1815 and she presented her eldest son, Miguel to Bolívar commending him to Bolívar's service "hasta vencer o morir por la libertad de la Patria". Miguel was made a Subteniente and fought with Bolívar until his death at the battle of El Sombrero, on 17 February 1818. Luis Girardot was killed by robbers (in 1817?). María Josefa Díaz refused the pension offered by Bolívar as she did not need it then, but later lived in poverty and misery. (Monsalve, 185-188)

She married Luis Girardot and was the mother of Atanasio, Bárbara, Joaquina and Mercedes Girardot. She attended the Sumalave pro-independence tertulias in Bogotá. The family was great friends with the Almeyda family. (Díaz y Díaz, 29, 34)

She and her family were exiled to Fontibón by Morillo in August 1816. She was probably held in the Cárcel Chiquito before being exiled. (Monsalve, 156, 159)

References:

Díaz y Díaz, Oswaldo (1962) Los Almeydas: Episodios de la resistencia patriota contra el ejército pacificador de tierra firme
Monsalve, José D (1926) Mujeres de la independencia