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

Manuela Medina

Other names: La Capitana

Gender:Female

Ethnic origen: Indigenous

Events:

Connections:

Biography:
An indigenous woman from Texcoco, Mexico, who took part in the Independence battles. She was made a Captain for her military services. (Knaster, 477.)




She obtained her nickname through her bravery in combat, fighting in numerous battles against the royalists in Morelos's troops. She was injured twice in battle: once in the back and the other in the stomach. The extent of her injuries led to her spending the last 18 months of her life immobile and in extreme pain. She died in her native Texcoco on 2 March 1822. Morelos acknowledged her contribution as follows: "Hoy no se ha hecho fuego ninguno. Llegó en esta día a nuestro campo doña Manuela Medina, india natural de Texcoco, mujer extraordinaria a quien la Junta dio el titulo de "la Capitana", por sus servicios prestados a la causa insurgente y a la nación mexicana." (Carrera Stampa, 1)




Muñoz y Pérez quotes the following extract appeared in the Diario de operaciones, outlining her contribution to the battle of Rancho de las Animas, on 24 February 1814:


"Día 9 de Abril (miércoles). Hoy no se ha hecho fuego ninguno. Llego en este día a nuestro campo doña Manuela Medina, india natural de Texcoco, mujer extraordinaria a quien la junta (de Zitácuario) le dio el titulo de capitana porque ha hecho varios servicios a la Nación, y acreditándose por ellos, pues ha levantado una compañía y se ha hallado en siete acciones de guerra. Hizo un viaje de más de cien leguas por conocer el general Morales: después de haberlo visto dijo que ya moría con ese gusto, aunque la despedazase una bomba de Acapulco."


Muñoz y Pérez also quotes from Memorias para la Historia de las Revoluciones en México:


"Dotada esta mujer de un valor extraordinario y de un patriotismo acrisolado, era la primera que a la cabeza de sus jinetes se lanzaba entre fuego y la gente realista, y no pocas veces logró poner en fuga a los soldados del rey."


She died in Texcoco, on 2 March 1822 as a result of two injuries she had received in battle 18 months earlier and that had left her paralysed. Lucás Alamán denoted her a heroine of independence, giving Taxco as her place of birth. She undertook a long journey to meet José María Morelos and fought alongside him. (Muñoz y Pérez, a, 1)




She led a company of patriots into 7 battles and travelled to Acapulco to meet Morelos. She died in Texcoco, in March 1822, as a result of injuries sustained in battle that she had received 18 months earlier. During this period, she had suffered terrible pain. (González Obregón, 159)




Miquel i Vergés states that she was from Taxco. She raised a compañía and took part in several battles. In 1813 they marched to Acapulco to meet Morelos. She died in Texcoco in March 1822. (Miquel i Vergés, 371)

References:

Carrera Stampa, Manuel (1961) Heroínas de la guerra de independencia
González Obregón, Luis (c1952) Los procesos militar e inquisitorial del Padre Hidalgo y de otros caudillos insurgentes
Knaster, Meri (1977) Women in Spanish America: An Annotated Bibliography from Pre-Conquest to Contemporary Times
Miquel i Vergés, José María (1969) Diccionario de Insurgentes
Muñoz y Pérez, Daniel (1961) Heroínas mexicanas