A tribute to anonymity

Not many names became as well known as those of María Remedios, Juana Azurduy, Macacha Güemes or Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson. However, that does not imply that there have not been thousands of women whose actions were indispensable for the independence process.

To analyze this process, it is key to understand that they were not only wives and mothers in charge of the home, but that throughout the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata they were on the front lines during numerous combats, as well as being the nurses who helped the wounded, the laundresses who cleaned the clothes, the cooks who were in charge of preparing the food or the spies who got under the noses of the enemies. Many women made themselves available to San Martín and fulfilled various functions in that Army.

In short, women from all social strata participated, each with their own possibilities, in the independence struggle. And, of course, liberation would never have been achieved without them.

Juana Azurduy

“Juana Azurduy, Flor del Alto Perú, There is no other captain More courageous than you”, Mercedes Sosa sang about this brilliant patriot born in 1780 in Toroca and whose deeds took more than 150 years to obtain a well-deserved recognition. She was a woman marked by fire for heroism and persecuted by death on countless occasions; She was close to losing her life in many battles and she saw her parents die at a very young age and then her husband, Miguel Asencio Padilla, and four of her children.

Azurduy was a representative of the armed struggle of the indigenous and mestizo population that was fed up with colonial exploitation. She and her husband created the "Los Leales" battalion, which fought against royalist troops in Upper Peru. Her bravery was so immense that Belgrano gave her her saber and demanded that she be named "Lieutenant Colonel". Beginning in 1816, she joined the forces of Martín Miguel de Güemes to defend the land during six royalist invasions. She died in misery on May 25, 1862. One hundred years later, her remains were exhumed and transferred to a mausoleum built in the city of Sucre, Bolivia, and in 2009 she was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Argentine Army.

Macacha Guemes

María Magdalena Dámasa de Güemes de Tejada, known as "Macacha", sister of General Martín Miguel de Güemes, was born on December 11, 1787 in Salta. She is one of the most important women of the Argentine Independence. From 1810 she worked alongside her brother in the revolutionary cause. Her role was based on espionage and logistics work and, years later, when Martín was governor, she was a kind of "minister without portfolio" due to the weight she had in public affairs.

In addition to defending the interests of the most neglected, she commanded, together with her brother, “Los Infernales”, an army of gauchos that fought Spanish troops in the north of the country. Endowed with immeasurable political ability, in March 1816, Macacha was essential for the signing of the Peace of the Cerillos, in the context of a conflict between Martín Miguel and General Rondeau in command of the forces of Buenos Aires. That fact was indispensable for the signing of independence. After the death of her brother, in 1821, Macacha continued to work in the revolution and in the well-being of her province, defending the interests of the most neglected people. She passed away on June 7, 1866.

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Mariquita Sanchez de Thompson

María Sánchez de Thompson, better known as “Mariquita”, was born on November 1, 1776. Coming from a wealthy family, she rebelled against the imposition of her parents to marry a man she did not love. She was in love with Martín Thompson, her cousin, with whom she was able to marry after winning a dissenting judgment.

Starting in 1808, she and her husband organized numerous gatherings in her house attended by personalities from politics and culture. History remembers her because in one of those meetings she would have sung the Argentine anthem for the first time, although there are serious doubts that this really happened. However, the fact that the painter Pedro Subercaseaux represented that landmark in her house in a painting is proof that Mariquita was one of the most important women of the time and of the revolutionary process.

She was a reference for the women of the River Plate elite, a keen observer of the time, she promoted female education and collaborated financially with the revolution. She presided over the Benevolent Society of Buenos Aires, which administered orphanages, hospitals, and women's schools. She spent many years of her life exiled from her in Montevideo due to a falling out with Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas. During her last years, she returned to preside over the Benevolent Society, until she fell ill and died on October 23, 1868. Her legacy is so important that her portrait is in the Salón de las Mujeres Argentinas of the Pink House

Mary Remedies of the Valley

Few women were as important on the battlefield as María Remedios del Valle. She was born in 1766 and of African roots, she began to stand out doing nursing jobs and assisting those who suffered injuries during the English invasions. Not by chance, she began to be known as "The Mother of the Country": her love for these lands led her to take up arms and fight in the Army commanded by Belgrano. He, stunned by her commitment, loyalty and discipline, named her captain of her troop, something quite unusual for the time given that she was a woman and black.

María Remedios fought in the battles of Ayohúma, Vilcapugio, Tucumán and in the Jujuy Exodus. She received countless injuries and came close to death on at least seven occasions. Even in 1813 she was taken prisoner by the royalists and flogged for nine consecutive days. Those scars of hers lasted a lifetime. According to testimonies of the time, her services were indispensable, both in the care of the wounded and sick and in combat.

After the wars, the Mother of the Country lived for many years in poverty, begging for food in the churches to survive. However, her fate changed in mid-1827 when General Juan José Viamonte recognized her asking for alms. This, once elected deputy, was key so that María Remedios could have a pension and live her last years with dignity. Years later she was promoted to Sergeant Major of the Cavalry. She passed away on November 8, 1847.

In April 2013, Law No. 26,852 was passed, which commemorates November 8 as the "National Day of Afro-Argentines and Afro Culture" in honor of María Remedios del Valle.