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

Juana de Dios Manrique de Luna

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Lima dress

Lima dress

Lima woman

Gender:Female

Ethnic origen: Unknown

Events:

Connections:

Biography:
From Lima, she received correspondence from Cochrane and Sucre, that was transported in a basket of fish by a mozo, José Olaya. He was captured on 28 June 1823(?), tortured and shot. He did not reveal Manrique de Luna's identity. (Neuhaus Rizo, 129-130.)

She corresponded with Sucre when he was in the Castillo del Real Felipe, Callao giving him details of the patriots´ movements. She worked with her cousin Antonia Zumaeta and José Olaya ("el mártir chorillano"): the patriots gave information to the two women, which they passed it on to Olaya who then took it to San Lorenzo island disguised as a merchant in a fragile canoe. Their efforts helped to secure the capture of the frigate Esmerelda.
Her activities as a spy were discovered and the Spanish general Manuel Llanos issued an order for her arrest on 29 June [no year!]. She said she was ill and unable to leave her house. Her cousin, Antonia Zumaeta, went before the Spanish in her place and read out a statement declaring Manrique de Luna to be innocent of passing on secrets. Olaya, too, was imprisoned that day and was executed. (García y García, 223-224)

References:

García y García, Elvira (1924) La mujer peruana a través de los siglos
Neuhaus Rizo Patrón, Carlos (1997) Las Mariscalas