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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:
| 1815 | - | Potosí | - | Patriot | - | She fired a canon at royalist troops in Potosí, possibly in 1815. |
Connections:
Women soldiersBiography:
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)
References:
Urquidi, José Macedonio (1918) Bolivianas ilustres, heroinas, escritoras, artistas, Tomo I