Jacinta Parejo de Crespo (better known as ''Misia Jacinta'') (August 16, 1845–April 16, 1914) was a

Venezuelan Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

public figure A public figure is a person who has achieved notoriety, prominence or fame within a society, whether through achievement, luck, action, or in some cases through no purposeful action of their own, In the context of defamation actions (libel and s ...

and the

First Lady of Venezuela First Lady of Venezuela (Spanish: ''Primera Dama de Venezuela'') is the unofficial title traditionally held by the wife of the president of Venezuela. The current office of the first lady is disputed. List of first ladies Non-spouse first ladie ...

from 1884 to 1886 and from 1892 to 1898 during the presidential terms of

Joaquín Crespo Joaquín Sinforiano de Jesús Crespo Torres (; 22 August 1841 – 16 April 1898) was a Venezuelan military officer and politician. A member of the Great Liberal Party of Venezuela, he served as the president of Venezuela from 1884 to 1886 and aga ...

.Jacinta Parejo de Crespo at Venezuelatuya.com
/ref> Parejo was the first woman in Venezuela to intercede in official policy in a very involved fashion. She held government meetings, worked on projects of the

head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

, and at times interceded on the behalf of political prisoners. Her second husband was killed in battle in 1898 and Parejo afterwards became the defender of their family's legacy. ''VenezuelaTuya'' states that the legal succession of Parejo and Crespo was "one of the biggest legal disputes of the early twentieth century in Venezuela."

Early life

Jacinta Parejo de Crespo was born on August 16, 1845 to Juan Parejo and Maria Josefa Parejo in

Guárico ) , anthem = '' Himno del Estado Guárico'' , image_map = Guarico in Venezuela.svg , map_alt = , map_caption = Location within Venezuela , pushpin_map = , pushpin_map_a ...

. on August 8, 1861, she married General Saturnino Silva. Silva died in combat during the

Federal War The Federal War ( es, Guerra Federal) — also known as the Great War or the Five Year War — was a civil war (1859–1863) in Venezuela between the Conservative party and the Liberal party over the monopoly the Conservatives held over governm ...

. In the aftermath of the death, she met General

. Crespo, like her, was native to Guarico. Crespo was also a confidant of General Antonio Guzman Blanco, who was to become president of Venezuela. She and Crespo married on September 18, 1864. She remained married to Crespo during his subsequent positions in the

Venezuelan government Venezuela is a federal presidential republic. The chief executive is the President of Venezuela who is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the President. Legislative power is vested in the National Assemb ...

until his death in combat.

Political career

1884-1886: First term as First Lady

She first served as

from 1884 until 1886. Parejo was the first woman in Venezuela to intercede in official policy in such a fashion. She held meetings, worked on projects of the head of state, and at times interceded on the behalf of political prisoners to Crespo.

1892: Legalist Revolution and final term

According to ''Venezuelatuya'', Crespo relied greatly on her advice and confidence during his career, and asserts that in 1892 she "made up for the lack of committees or revolutionary juntas in the clandestine organization of the Legalista Revolution." While Crespo campaigned with the military in remote areas of Venezuela, Parejo lived in Caracas and contributed to the campaign through secret correspondence and shipping items to officers at the battlefront. On June 17, 1892,Raimundo Andueza Palacio
/ref> Parejo's husband overthrew President

Raimundo Andueza Palacio Raimundo Ignacio Andueza Palacio (6 February 1846 – 17 August 1900), was the president of Venezuela (1890–1892). He also served twice as his country's Minister of Foreign Affairs. A member of the Liberal Party, Andueza entered politics as d ...

. Following the resignation of subsequent president Guillermo Tell VillegasGobierno en Línea - Nuestros Presidentes
/ref> during the crisis of the Legalist Revolution,Historia de Venezuela / Tomas del poder
Guillermo Tell Villegas Pulido was selected by the Federal Council as the provisional president of Venezuela in August 1892. After Crespo established himself as president by force in October 1892, Villegas Pulido left the country. She again became First Lady on October 7, 1892.

1893-1898: End of term and late life

In 1897, Crespo did not campaign for a third presidential term but supported

Ignacio Andrade Ignacio Andrade Troconis (31 July 1839 – 17 February 1925), was a military man and politician.

against key opponent

José Manuel Hernández José Manuel Hernández (1853 – 25 August 1921) was a popular Venezuelan caudillo, army general, congressman, presidential candidate and cabinet member who was also involved in numerous insurrections. Biography Hernández was born in C ...

. Andrade won the election, and his wife María Isabel Sosa Saa replaced Parejo as First Lady on February 28, 1898. Hernandez decried the results as fraudulent and took up arms. Hernandez was quickly defeated, with resultant political turmoil. Crespo was killed in battle on April 16, 1898 in the Battle of Mata Carmelera while defending the government of

Ignacio Andrade Ignacio Andrade Troconis (31 July 1839 – 17 February 1925), was a military man and politician.

. Parejo afterwards became the defender of their family's legacy. According to ''VenezuelaTuya'', while grieving, she failed to prevent several lawsuits, particularly one filed by the Colombian general Vicente Sebastián Mestre. Sebastián claimed that he was owed Bs. 700,000 in damages for a canceled military contract.

Death and legacy

Parejo died on April 16, 1914 in

Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...

. According to ''VenezuelaTuya'', the legal succession of Parejo and Crespo is "one of the biggest legal disputes of the early twentieth century in Venezuela." According to the dispute, popular traditions holds that Crespo allegedly had a first mistress and never lived in the

Miraflores Palace The ''Palacio de Miraflores'' (Spanish for Miraflores Palace) is the official residence of the President of Venezuela. It is located on Urdaneta Avenue, Libertador Bolivarian Municipality in Caracas. History Construction and decoration Co ...

, dubbed "The House of Misia Jacinta." During the

crisis in Bolivarian Venezuela The crisis in Venezuela is an ongoing socioeconomic and political crisis that began in Venezuela during the presidency of Hugo Chávez and has worsened in Nicolás Maduro's presidency. It has been marked by hyperinflation, escalating starvati ...

, the tomb of Crespo and his wife Jacinta was looted and vandalized, leaving their bodies exposed to the elements.

References

External links

*
Jacinta Parejo de Crespo at Venezuelatuya.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parejo, Jacinta 1845 births 1914 deaths Burials in Venezuela People from Guárico First Ladies of Venezuela 19th-century Venezuelan people