Manuela Sáenz
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Doña Manuela Sáenz de Vergara y Aizpuru (27 December 1797 – 23 November 1856) was an Ecuadorian revolutionary heroine of South America who supported the revolutionary cause by gathering information, distributing leaflets and protesting for women's rights. Manuela received the Order of the Sun ("''Caballeresa del Sol''" or 'Dame of the Sun'), honoring her services in the revolution. Sáenz married a wealthy English doctor in 1817 and became a socialite in
Lima, Peru Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...
. This provided the setting for involvement in political and military affairs, and she became active in support of revolutionary efforts. Leaving her husband in 1822, she soon began an eight-year collaboration and intimate relationship with
Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...
that lasted until his death in 1830. After she prevented an 1828 assassination attempt against him and facilitated his escape, Bolívar began to call her "''Libertadora del libertador''" ("liberator of the liberator"). Manuela's role in the revolution after her death was generally overlooked until the late twentieth century, but now she is recognized as a
feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...
symbol of the 19th century wars of independence.


Life


Early life

Manuela was born in
Quito Quito (; qu, Kitu), formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its urban area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha. Quito is located in a valley o ...
, the illegitimate child of Maria Joaquina Aizpuru from
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
and the married Spanish nobleman Simón Sáenz de Vergara y Yedra (or Sáenz y Verega). Her mother was abandoned by her modest family as a result of the pregnancy and her father paid for young "Manuelita" to go to school at the Convent of Santa Catalina where she learned to read and write. While there, she encountered a microcosm of the Spanish colonial caste system, with white nuns ruling over a large group of ''mestiza'' and native servants and maids. She kept in contact with the upper class nuns of Santa Catalina for much of the rest of her life, and they provided counsel to her. She was forced to leave the
convent A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...
at the age of seventeen, allegedly because she was discovered to have been seduced by army officer Fausto D'Elhuyar, the son of
Fausto Elhuyar Fausto de Elhuyar (11 October 1755 – 6 February 1833) was a Spanish chemist, and the first to isolate tungsten with his brother Juan José Elhuyar in 1783. He was in charge, under a King of Spain commission, of organizing the School of Mines i ...
and nephew of
Juan José Elhuyar Juan José Elhuyar Lubize (15 June 1754 – 20 September 1796) was a Spanish chemist and mineralogist, who was best known for being first to isolate tungsten with his brother Fausto Elhuyar in 1783. He was born in Logroño, in northern Spain ...
, who were the co-discoverers of
tungsten Tungsten, or wolfram, is a chemical element with the symbol W and atomic number 74. Tungsten is a rare metal found naturally on Earth almost exclusively as compounds with other elements. It was identified as a new element in 1781 and first isolat ...
.


Early participation within the revolution

For several years, Manuela lived with her father, who in 1817 arranged for her marriage to a wealthy English doctor, James Thorne, who was twice her age. The couple moved to
Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...
,
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...
, in 1819 where she lived as an
aristocrat The aristocracy is historically associated with "hereditary" or "ruling" social class. In many states, the aristocracy included the upper class of people (aristocrats) with hereditary rank and titles. In some, such as ancient Greece, ancient Ro ...
and held social gatherings in her home where guests included political leaders and military officers. These guests shared military secrets about the ongoing revolution with her, and, in 1819, when
Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...
took part in the successful liberation of New Granada, Manuela Sáenz was radicalized and an active member in the conspiracy against the
viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning "k ...
of
Perú , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy fo ...
,
José de la Serna e Hinojosa José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...
during 1820. As part of this conspiracy, Manuela, her friend Rosa Campuzano, and other women who were pro-Independence attempted to recruit colonial troops from the royalist defense arsenal in Lima, guarded by the vital Numancia regiment. The conspiracy was a success, with much of the regiment, including Manuela's half brother, defecting to the anti-Spanish army of
José de San Martín José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras (25 February 177817 August 1850), known simply as José de San Martín () or '' the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru'', was an Argentine general and the primary leader of the southern and cent ...
. Saenz was described as a heroine and known for her patriotism. This patriotism was noticed in her sympathies for the creole uprising against the Spanish control in South America. Jose De San Martin after proclaiming Peru’s independence in 1821 awarded Manuela Saenz with the highest distinction in Peru, which was the title of signet ring of the Order of the Sun of Peru.“Manuela Sáenz, Révolutionnaire Féministe.” L'Histoire par les femmes, July 7, 2019. https://histoireparlesfemmes.com/2016/02/08/manuela-saenz-revolutionnaire-feministe/ In her early periods she would hold secret gatherings, where she would pass information as a spy.“Manuela Sáenz: La Libertadora Feminista.” Colombia Informa - Agencia de Comunicaciones , November 23, 2018. https://www.colombiainforma.info/manuela-saenz-la-libertadora-feminista/ Manuela Saenz participated in the negotiations with the Numancia battalion.


Relationship with Simón Bolívar (1822–1830)

In 1822, Sáenz left her husband and traveled to
Quito Quito (; qu, Kitu), formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its urban area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha. Quito is located in a valley o ...
, where at a ball she met Simón Bolívar, eventually becoming romantically involved. She exchanged
love letter A love letter is an expression of love in written form. However delivered, the letter may be anything from a short and simple message of love to a lengthy explanation and description of feelings. History One of the oldest references to a lo ...
s with him and visited him while he moved from one country to another. Bolivar referred to her as ''la amable loca'', the dear madwoman. Manuela supported the revolutionary cause by gathering information, distributing leaflets, and protesting for
women's rights Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, ...
. As one of the most prominent female figures of the wars for independence, Manuela received the Order of the Sun ("''Caballeresa del Sol''" or 'Dame of the Sun'), honoring her services in the revolution. In public she often wore a colonel's uniform, accompanied by her two black servants Jonatás and Nathán, also attired in soldier uniforms. During the first months of 1825 and from February to September 1826, she lived with Bolívar near
Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...
, but as the war continued, Bolívar was forced to leave. During the anti-Bolivarian conspiracy led by Colombian Colonel José Bustamente, Manuela was a key member of the Pro-Bolivarian forces. On January 25, 1827, significant portions of the Colombian Army's Third Division mutinied in Lima, arresting senior officers and seizing key locations in the city, demanding better food and pay as General Santa Cruz and the conspirators suspended the Bolivarian Constitution. Manuela had remained behind in Lima, trusted by Bolivar to look after his affairs, and moved to stop the mutiny. Presenting in full uniform, she addressed troops of the Third Division and begged them to remain loyal to Bolivar. Afterwards, she began bribing sergeants and corporals in the hopes of outbidding the conspirators, to some success. This continued until she was captured by the new Peruvian government on February 7, and imprisoned her in a convent. She protested her treatment under both Bolivarian laws and new Peruvian laws, and this agitation would eventually see her released from prison in March, and forced into exile in April. As a result of this agitation, she was now beginning to be known as the Libertadora, a public legend to match Bolivar in the minds of some. Manuela now followed Bolivar to
Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city of Colombia, and one of the larges ...
. On 25 September 1828, mutinous officers attempted to assassinate Bolívar. Woken by the sound of fighting, Bolivar intended to investigate, but Sáenz, who was sharing his bed, persuaded him to leave by a window while she confronted the intruders. She then convinced them that Bolivar was somewhere in the building and proceeded to lead them to various rooms, affecting to lose her way and even stopping to attend one of the wounded. Eventually the would-be assassins lost patience and beat her before departing. Her actions led Bolivar later to call her "''Libertadora del Libertador''". After the assassination attempt, Manuela proved to be a key part of identifying the loyalties and reliabilities of army officers, attempting to help Bolivar maintain control of the disintegrating Gran Colombia. Bolívar left
Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city of Colombia, and one of the larges ...
in 1830 and died in
Santa Marta Santa Marta (), officially Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta ("Touristic, Cultural and Historic District of Santa Marta"), is a city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is the capital of Magdalena ...
from
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
while he was in transit, leaving the country to exile. He had made no provision for Manuela. On his deathbed, Bolívar had asked his aide-de-camp, General Daniel F. O'Leary to burn the remaining, extensive archive of his writings, letters, and speeches. O'Leary disobeyed the order and his writings survived, providing historians with a vast wealth of information about Bolívar's liberal philosophy and thought, as well as details of his personal life, such as his longstanding love affair with Manuela Sáenz. Shortly before her own death in 1856, Sáenz augmented this collection by giving O'Leary her own letters from Bolívar.
Francisco de Paula Santander Francisco José de Paula Santander y Omaña (Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander, Colombia, April 2, 1792 – Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, 1840), was a Colombian military and political leader during the 1810–1819 independ ...
, who returned to power after Bolívar's death then exiled Manuela. She went to
Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
for the early years of her exile. She remained politically active until the mid-1840s before becoming disillusioned.


Years in exile and death (1835–1856)

When she attempted to return to
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
in 1835, the Ecuadorian president,
Vicente Rocafuerte Vicente Rocafuerte y Bejarano (1 May 1783 – 16 May 1847) was an influential figure in Ecuadorian politics and President of Ecuador from 10 September 1834 to 31 January 1839. He was born into an aristocratic family in Guayaquil, Ecuador, an ...
, revoked her passport. Rocafuerte justified his order to exile Sáenz by stating “It is the women who most promote the spirit of anarchy in these countries".Chambers, Sarah. (2001). Republican Friendship: Manuela Saenz Writes Women into the Nation, 1835-1856. The Hispanic American historical review. 81. 225-57. 10.1215/00182168-81-2-225. pp 226 She then took refuge in northern
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...
, living in the small coastal town of
Paita Paita is a city in northwestern Peru. It is the capital of the Paita Province which is in the Piura Region. It is a leading seaport in the region. Paita is located 1,089 km northwest of the country's capital Lima, and 57 km northwest of ...
. She descended into poverty and for the next twenty-five years, a destitute outcast, Manuela sold tobacco and translated letters for North American whale hunters who wrote to their lovers in Latin America. While there, she met the American author
Herman Melville Herman Melville (Name change, born Melvill; August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American people, American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance (literature), American Renaissance period. Among his bes ...
, and the revolutionary
Giuseppe Garibaldi Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi ( , ;In his native Ligurian language, he is known as ''Gioxeppe Gaibado''. In his particular Niçard dialect of Ligurian, he was known as ''Jousé'' or ''Josep''. 4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) was an Italian general, patr ...
. Saenz would establish The Society of Patriotic Ladies and decorating the members with the slogan “To the patriotism of the most sensitive" Manuela Sáenz and other women partook in conspiracies against Spanish rule in her years of exile.Chambers, Sarah. (2001). Republican Friendship: Manuela Saenz Writes Women into the Nation, 1835-1856. The Hispanic American historical review. 81. 225-57. 10.1215/00182168-81-2-225. pp 232 In 1847, her husband was murdered in
Pativilca Pativilca is a town in central Peru, capital of the district Pativilca in the province Barranca in the region Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is l ...
and she was denied her 8,000 pesos
inheritance Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, Title (property), titles, debts, entitlements, Privilege (law), privileges, rights, and Law of obligations, obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ ...
.
Disabled Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...
after the stairs in her home collapsed, Manuela died in
Paita Paita is a city in northwestern Peru. It is the capital of the Paita Province which is in the Piura Region. It is a leading seaport in the region. Paita is located 1,089 km northwest of the country's capital Lima, and 57 km northwest of ...
, on 23 November 1856, during a
diphtheria Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild clinical course, but in some outbreaks more than 10% of those diagnosed with the disease may die. Signs and s ...
epidemic. Her body was buried in a communal, mass grave and her belongings were burned. The items that did survive, personal letters and artifacts, contributed later to the legacy of both her and Simon Bolívar.


Feminist contribution

During Saenz's time, women's realm consisted of private and domestic spaces while politics and warfare spaces were for men. She found various ways physically and symbolically to take part in masculine spheres of activity yet also take part in the feminine arenas of her period. She used feminine behaviours to have some influence in these masculine spaces, usually using her intimate relationships as tools.Hennes, Heather. “The Gendered Spaces of La Libertadora: Diego Rísquez’s ‘Manuela Sáenz.’” ''Hispanic Journal'' 32, no. 2 (2011): 95–108. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44287065. pp 99 She did not feel constrained by gendered conventions of what was considered proper feminine behaviour. She smoked, she dressed up in masculine clothes, was trained for military action.Vilalta, María José. “Historia de Las Mujeres y Memoria Histórica: Manuela Sáenz Interpela a Simón Bolívar (1822-1830).” ''Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y Del Caribe / European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies'', no. 93 (2012): 61–78. Saenz was an erotic symbol with her passion for Bolivar. Saenz was often described as an eccentric woman, a lesbian, who "would dress up during the day as an official and during the night she went through a metamorphosis with the help of some wine."Yaneth Oviedo, Mary. 2013. “Manuela Sáenz En Las Memorias de Jean Baptista Boussingault: ¿La Mujer Emancipadora o Emancipada?” In ''Mujeres y Emancipación de La América Latina y El Caribe En Los Siglos XIX y XX'', edited by Irina Bajini, Luisa Campuzano, and Emilia Perassi, 131–37. Di/Segni: 4. Milan, Italy: Università degli Studi di Milano; Ledizioni. https://search-ebscohost-com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mzh&AN=202016702084&site=eds-live&scope=site. Saenz is usually identified as an emancipated woman with a conviction for liberty and independence as well as a woman who breaks the status quo. She developed a discourse of friendship while in exile to give women some empowerment. This discourse of friendship was used to justify the influence of women in politics. Her work opposed the exclusion of women from politics by connecting friendship with female companionship.Chambers, Sarah. (2001). Republican Friendship: Manuela Saenz Writes Women into the Nation, 1835-1856. The Hispanic American historical review. 81. 225-57. 10.1215/00182168-81-2-225. pp 247 Seeing elite women as friends, instead of wives and mothers, goes against the issues surrounding the notion of “
republican motherhood "Republican Motherhood" is an 18th-century term for an attitude toward women's roles present in the emerging United States before, during, and after the American Revolution. It centered on the belief that the patriots' daughters should be raised ...
” which Saenz was familiar with at her time. This notion of motherhood focused on the idea that women were better as wives and mothers than as companions and collaborators. The praise of republican motherhood showed that there was fear and distress with the idea that women could influence and undermine the state if they are left on their own. Through the friendship discourse women would be seen as friends and peers to men, as companions and collaborators. Manuela Sáenz did not protest women’s exclusion from politics, but used that exclusion as a reasoning and personal interest into an affirmation of reliability and trustworthiness of women.Chambers, Sarah. (2001). Republican Friendship: Manuela Saenz Writes Women into the Nation, 1835-1856. The Hispanic American historical review. 81. 225-57. 10.1215/00182168-81-2-225. pp 231 Friendship, therefore, became a tool for independent women, which gave them a degree of influence greater than they were previously seen before this friendship discourse.Chambers, Sarah. (2001). Republican Friendship: Manuela Saenz Writes Women into the Nation, 1835-1856. The Hispanic American historical review. 81. 225-57. 10.1215/00182168-81-2-225. pp 246 Saenz believed that friendship would create stability and consistency. Sáenz switched the gendered icons within ideology at the time by encouraging friendship and the association of it with women.Chambers, Sarah. (2001). Republican Friendship: Manuela Saenz Writes Women into the Nation, 1835-1856. The Hispanic American historical review. 81. 225-57. 10.1215/00182168-81-2-225. pp 252 Lastly, by putting aside the view of motherhood or “woman problem,” Saenz work and image encouraged women to demand respect from politicians and intellectuals as individuals and not just as icons of their sex.Chambers, Sarah. (2001). Republican Friendship: Manuela Saenz Writes Women into the Nation, 1835-1856. The Hispanic American historical review. 81. 225-57. 10.1215/00182168-81-2-225. pp 256


Recognition and 2010 reburial

On 5 July 2010, Manuela Sáenz was given a full state burial in
Venezuela 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 ...
. Because she had been buried in a mass grave, no official remains of her existed for the state burial; instead, "symbolic remains", composed of some soil from the mass grave into which she was buried during the epidemic, were transported through
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...
,
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
and
Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
to
Venezuela 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 ...
. Those remains were laid in the
National Pantheon of Venezuela The National Pantheon of Venezuela (''Panteón Nacional de Venezuela'') is a final resting place for national heroes. The Pantheon (Latin ''Pantheon'', from Greek ''Pantheon,'' meaning " Temple of all the Gods") was created in the 1870s on th ...
where those of Bolívar are also memorialized.


Legacy

After the revolution, Manuela effectively faded from literature. Between 1860 and 1940 only three
Ecuadorian Ecuadorians ( es, ecuatorianos) are people identified with the South American country of Ecuador. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Ecuadorians, several (or all) of these connections exist and are collect ...
writers wrote about her and her participation in the revolution, and these writings largely portrayed her as either exclusively the lover of Simón Bolívar or as incapable and wrongfully participating within the political sphere. These portrayals also assured her
femininity Femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as socially constructed, and there is also some evidence that some behaviors considered fe ...
as a mainstay of her characterization. However, the 1940s created a significant shift in how she was viewed and characterized. Literature like ''Papeles De Manuela Saenz'', 1945, by Vicente Lecuna, which was a compilation of documents regarding the life of Bolívar, effectively disproved popular
stereotype In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can be, for example ...
s about Manuela. Ideas about her being sexually deviant, hyper feminine and incapable were replaced by more favorable portrayals as the 20th century progressed. The later 20th century generated shifts in her portrayals that were consistent with ideological shifts within Latin America, like the increase of
feminism Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...
of the 1980s and
nationalism Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a in-group and out-group, group of peo ...
of the 1960s – 1970s. Portrayals within the fictional ''
The General in His Labyrinth ''The General in His Labyrinth'' (original Spanish title: ) is a 1989 dictator novel by Colombian writer and Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez. It is a fictionalized account of the last seven months of Simón Bolívar, liberator and leade ...
'' by
Gabriel García Márquez Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez (; 6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo () or Gabito () throughout Latin America. Considered one ...
and the nonfictional Alfonso Rumazo's ''Manuela Saenz La Libertadora del Libertador'' contributed to her effective humanization within popular culture and helped politicize her image. Alfonso Rumazo’s novel was especially poignant for its ideas of Pan-American
Nationalism Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a in-group and out-group, group of peo ...
that were represented through Manuela's participation within the wars of independence. Manuela became increasingly popular with
radical Radical may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Radical politics, the political intent of fundamental societal change *Radicalism (historical), the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and ...
Latin American feminist groups subsequently, her image was commonly used as a rallying point for Indo-Latina causes of the 1980s. The popular image of Manuela riding horseback in men's clothing, popularized by her portrayal in ''The General in His Labyrinth'', was re-enacted by female demonstrators in
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
in 1998. There was a gathering of feminists in Paita on September 24, 1989, organized by Nella Martinez which encouraged the recognition of Manuela Saenz and paid homage to her. This was known as the "Primer Encuentro con la Historia: Manuela Saenz". All participants swore to follow her example by rallying against sexual, racial and class discrimination, and other injustices. They saw Saenz as a feminist heroine. On 25 May 2007 the Ecuadorian government symbolically gave Saenz the rank of
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
.


Museo Manuela Sáenz

The Museo Manuela Sáenz is a museum in Old Town,
Quito Quito (; qu, Kitu), formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its urban area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha. Quito is located in a valley o ...
, that contains personal effects from both Sáenz and Bolívar to " afeguardthe memories of Manuela Saenz, Quito's illustrious daughter". Located at Junin 709 y Montufar, Centro Histórico, Quito. Entrance to the museum is free with the purchase of one of the books about Manuela's life. Personal effects within the museum include
letters Letter, letters, or literature may refer to: Characters typeface * Letter (alphabet), a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; any of the symbols of an alphabet. * Letterform, the graphic form of a letter of the alphabe ...
, stamps, and paintings.


Biographical writings

* "The Four Seasons of Manuela". Biography by
Victor Wolfgang von Hagen Victor Wolfgang von Hagen (St. Louis, Missouri, United States, February 29, 1908 – Italy, March 8, 1985) was an American explorer author, archaeological historian, naturalist and anthropologist who traveled in South America with his wife (Chris ...
(1974)
"Manuela"
Novel by Gregory Kauffman (1999). * "Manuela Sáenz – La Libertadora del Libertador". Author: Alfonso Rumazo González (Quito 1984) * "En Defensa de Manuela Sáenz". Authors:
Pablo Neruda Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (12 July 1904 – 23 September 1973), better known by his pen name and, later, legal name Pablo Neruda (; ), was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Nerud ...
,
Ricardo Palma Manuel Ricardo Palma Soriano (February 7, 1833 – October 6, 1919) was a Peruvian author, scholar, librarian and politician. His magnum opus is the ''Tradiciones peruanas''. Biography According to the official account, Manuel Ricardo Pa ...
, Victor von Hagen, Vicente Lecuma, German Arciniegas, Alfonso Rumazo,
Pedro Jorge Vera Pedro Jorge Vera (1914 in Guayaquil – 1999) was an Ecuadorian writer and Communist Party of Ecuador politician. He contributed to several newspapers and magazines of controversial character " La Calle", with the writer Alejandro Carrión, ...
, Jorge Salvador Lara,
Jorge Enrique Adoum Jorge Enrique Adoum (June 29, 1926 in Ambato – July 3, 2009 in Quito) was an Ecuadorian writer, poet, politician, and diplomat. He was one of the major exponents of Latin American poetry. His work received such prestigious awards as the first ...
, Mario Briceño Perozo, Mary Ferrero,
Benjamín Carrión Manuel Benjamín Carrión Mora (April 20, 1897 in Loja – March 9, 1979 in Quito) was an Ecuadorian writer, diplomat and cultural promoter. Biography He was born into an aristocratic family in Loja. He was a lawyer by training, and occupied ...
, Jorge Villalba S.J., Leonardo Altuve,
Juan Liscano Juan Liscano Velutini (7 July 1915 – 17 February 2001) was a Venezuelan poet, folklorist, writer and critic. He was director of Monte Ávila Editores. Major examples of his poetic work are: ''Nuevo mundo Orinoco'' (1959), ''Cármenes'' (1966) ...
(Quito) * "Manuela Sáenz – presencia y polémica en la historia". Authors: María Mogollón and Ximena Narváez (Quito 1997) * "la Vida Ardiente De Manuelita Sáenz". Author: Alberto Miramón (Bogota 1946) * ''For Glory and Bolívar: The Remarkable Life of Manuela Sáenz''. Biography by Pamela S. Murray. (Austin, TX 2008). * ''Our Lives Are the Rivers: A Novel''. Author:
Jaime Manrique Jaime Manrique (born 16 June 1949) is a bilingual Colombian American novelist, poet, essayist, educator, and translator. His work is a representation of his cultural upbringing and heritage mixed with the flavors of his education in English. A pri ...
.


Biographical movies and opera

* ''Manuela Sáenz'', directed by Diego Rísquez (2000) 97 minutes. * ''Manuela y Bolívar'', opera in two acts by composer/librettist Diego Luzuriaga (2006) 2-1/2 hours. *'' Bolívar'', Netflix Original Series (2019) 63 episodes.


References

Cited sources * {{DEFAULTSORT:Saenz, Manuela 1797 births 1856 deaths 19th-century Ecuadorian people Burials at the National Pantheon of Venezuela Deaths from diphtheria Ecuadorian feminists Ecuadorian revolutionaries Female wartime spies Respiratory disease deaths in Peru Infectious disease deaths in Peru People from Quito People of the Spanish American wars of independence Recipients of the Order of the Sun of Peru Simón Bolívar Women in 19th-century warfare Women in war in Colombia Women in war in South America Ecuadorian independence activists Ecuadorian women activists