Juana Azurduy de Padilla

Juana Azurduy de Padilla was a Bolivian-Argentinian revolutionary and guerrilla leader during the South American Wars of Independence of the early XIX century. She was born on July 12, 1780 near Chuquisaca/Charcas (or "La Plata" then in Upper Peru, today Sucre in Bolivia). After years of living in Salta, Argentina, she returned to Bolivia and died in Sucre on May 25, 1862 in .She and her husband formed an army after the struggle that began with the La Paz revolution of 1809 seeking the independence of the South American Colonies. She was a fierce fighter herself, and was named a commander in the patriotic Northern Army of the Revolutionary Government of the United Provinces (Argentina). On March 8, 1816, her forces captured temporarily the Cerro Rico of Potosí, the main source of Spanish silver. Because of this and other feats, she was given the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on August 16, 1816, by Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata at Buenos Aires. [Felipe Pigna (2004). "Los mitos de la historia argentina 1", Chapter: "La tierra en Armas. Los infernales de Martín Miguel de Güemes: Flor del Alto Perú" ("The Flower of Upper Peru"). Grupo Editorial Norma: Buenos Aires.] At one point, there was an army of approximately 6,000 soldiers (mostly native quechua and aymara Indians) under her command.

She was wounded in battle on November 1816, and her husband (Manuel Padilla) was killed while trying to rescue her. During the Spanish counter-offensive of 1818, she withdrew with some of her soldiers to Northern Argentina, and continued fighting under the command of the Argentine governor and guerrilla leader General Martín Miguel de Güemes. By 1826, when Spain withdrew, she had been able to carve out a "republiqueta" (little republic, or "insurrection zone") for herself with this army. She lost 4 sons during the wars and fought while pregnant of her daughter.

She died, forgotten and in abject poverty, in 1862. Proper homage and recognition came only a century later, as a hero of both Argentina and Bolivia. Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport in Sucre is named after her, and so is the Jungle Infantry Regiment of the Argentine Army, based at Tartagal, Salta. The National Programme for Women's Rights and Participation of Argentina is also named "Juana Azurduy". [ [http://www.juanaazurduy.gov.ar/ Programa "Juana Azurduy" de Fortalecimiento de Derechos y Participación de las Mujeres (in Spanish)] ]

References

*Salmonson, Jessica Amanda.(1991) "The Encyclopedia of Amazons". Paragon House. Page 26. ISBN 1-55778-420-5
* [http://www.odonnell-historia.com.ar/libros/JUANA%20AZURDUY.htm Link to the Book Chapters of: Pacho O'Donnell (1994). "The Woman Lieutenant Colonel", in Spanish. Planeta: Buenos Aires.]