Choose an historical figure from latin America that interests you who you didn’t know much about before this class. What was their contribution, and what is their legacy?
Juana Azurduy de Padilla 1780- 1862 was a Bolivian Guerrilla military leader. It is crucial to mention, Juana was a woman, one of the most prominent woman in Latam history. Born to a Spanish father and indigenous mother, she worked alongside the indigenous laborers in her father’s hacienda. Learning in the process Aymara and Quechua- the local indigenous languages of Perú and Bolivia, as well as speaking Spanish as her mother tongue. She was taught by her father how to become a sharp shooter and other important skills in a battlefield, which was progressive and revolutionary itself in her time.
After her father’s death, her and her sisters were put under the patronage of their aunt, who disliked Juana for her rebelliousness, and threw her into a nun’s school, one she was also kicked out from for her strong and independent personality, as well as idolizing Jeanne D’Arc . Back in her father’s hacienda, she worked with the indigenous people whom she learned from and saw firsthand the oppression, maltreatment and torture the indigenous people would suffer from the Spaniards. She then, became a fierce ally of indigenous rights.
Years later, she and her husband (Padilla) joined the Chuquisaca Revolution of 1809, joining the war of independence in Upper Peru (Bolivia today), as well as leading and recruiting battalions with up to 10,000 of indigenous people and Amazonas. She would dress as a male cavalry officer and gained impressive sword skills (to the point Simon Bolivar would later say Bolivia’s name should be Azurduy and Padilla). What she is most remembered for is having to leave a battle in 1815, to give birth to her son, and legendary return to the battle and continue fighting and capturing the standard of the Spanish defeated forces.
I find it is important to have Latin American inspiring women, in a region that is haunted with femicides and machismo. Really infested with extremist catholicism, Juana was able to go out of her own way to not only create history for herself, but become one of the most important figures in the independence of Bolivia. She in now a symbol of unity between Argentina and Bolivia- and her statue in Buenos Aires replaced Christopher Columbus, in a move I would dare call revolutionary and necessary to move past internalized post-colonization supremacy and to the respect for the real leaders. Leaders like Juana, who inspire Latin Americans to move forward every day.
I enjoyed reading about a powerful and impactful woman in Latin America. I feel like we are very limited to narratives like this one, and it was nice to learn about a new one such as Juana Azurduy de Padilla. I love that you chose a woman who participated in war and helped liberate upper Peru from the Spanish. I wonder if there were any personal costs that she suffered because of her participation? I find it important that she created her own narrative story that both shed light on oppression and colonization, while emphasizing strength and determination. I also love how she received a statue that replaced one that many know of, to her’s who maybe not as many people recognize.
I think you point out exactly what I was thinking: it’s so important for female heroes to be recognized for their work as fighters for indigenous rights, and especially for their work in formulating the countries in Latin America today. Emphasizing that powerful, revolutionary women were also a part of ousting the Spanish and creating new countries is integral. I love that you chose to write about Juana Azurduy de Padilla – I didn’t know she had existed, and I know want to know so much more (that story about her leaving battle, giving birth, and then returning is badass)!