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Women and Independence in Latin America An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence |
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Women and Independence in Latin America An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence |
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Gender:Female
Ethnic origen: Unknown
Events:
| 1792 | - | Potosí | - | Not applicable | - | She was born in the San Roque barrio, Potosí. |
| 1816 | - | Potosí | - | Unknown | - | She was caught, mutilated and executed in Potosí plaza. |
Connections:
Women executed independence cause (Bolivia)Biography:
Born in Potosí, Bolivia, in 1792, to a poor but decent family in the San Roque barrio. Her brother fought in the patriot army until his death in 1816. Until then she worked with other women based in a house known as Keori-chaca, supporting the independence cause by putting patriots elsewhere in Bolivia in touch with one another, sending news and strategic plans for action. Suspicion fell on them and they were watched. Andrea Arias and her comadre, Francisca Barrera were captured early one morning. There was no incriminating evidence as all documents had been removed to safety earlier that night and taken to Gregorio Vargas. But the two women were tortured and presented in public, stripped, whipped, their tongues were cut out, their hands were cut off and then they were shot in the plaza in 1816. Urquidi notes that on 14 October 1815 there was a record of a baby girl born on 14 October 1815 to Andrea Arias y Cuiza and Dr. Gregorio Vargas. She was brought up by the cura de San Lucas and later given a reward in recognition of her mother's services to the country. (Urquidi, 218-222)
Related to Juliana Arias?
References:
Urquidi, José Macedonio (1918) Bolivianas ilustres, heroinas, escritoras, artistas, Tomo I