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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: White
Events:
| 1762 | - | Buenos Aires | - | Not applicable | - | Born |
| 1807 | - | Buenos Aires | - | Unknown | - | She captured 12 English soldiers at her home in San Telmo on 5 July 1807. |
Connections:
Women financially rewarded for independence activitiesBiography:
She was born in 1762. During the English invasion of Buenos Aires of 1807-1808 she captured 12 English soldiers at her house. She was given the title sergeant major and a salary. (Seibel, 20)
On 5 July 1807 she and her three daughters captured 12 English soldiers when they arrived at her house asking for drink. They gave them aguardiente until they were in no position to resist arrest. The following day Céspedes presented them to Viceroy Liniers. He made her a sergeant major, and gave her a uniform and a salary. The English army was defeated; 11 of the soldiers returned, the twelfth married Josefa Céspedes, one of Martina's daughters. Martina Céspedes wore her uniform to the ceremony. In 1825 she took part in a victory parade beside the governor, General Juan Gregorio de Las Heras, and other heroes of independence. (Sosa de Newton, 143-144)
References:
Seibel, Beatriz (1989) "Mujer, teatro y sociedad en Argentina, epoca de la colonia"
Sosa de Newton, Lily (1986) Diccionario biográfico de mujeres argentinas