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Manuela Sáenz de Vergara y Aizpuru (
Quito Quito (; ), officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city, capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha Province, P ...
,
Viceroyalty of New Granada The Viceroyalty of the New Kingdom of Granada ( ), also called Viceroyalty of New Granada or Viceroyalty of Santa Fe, was the name given on 27 May 1717 to the jurisdiction of the Spanish Empire in northern South America, corresponding to modern ...
, 27 December 1797 – Peru, 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 ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
. 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 (24July 178317December 1830) was a Venezuelan statesman and military officer who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bol ...
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"). In an unknown letter she wrote, she claimed that "the Liberator is immortal", despite the fact that she was responsible for his survival. 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 ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...
symbol of the 19th-century wars of independence.


Life


Early life

Manuela was born in
Quito Quito (; ), officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city, capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha Province, P ...
,
Viceroyalty of New Granada The Viceroyalty of the New Kingdom of Granada ( ), also called Viceroyalty of New Granada or Viceroyalty of Santa Fe, was the name given on 27 May 1717 to the jurisdiction of the Spanish Empire in northern South America, corresponding to modern ...
, the illegitimate child of Maria Joaquina Aizpuru from
Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
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 an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The term 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 and nephew of Juan José Elhuyar, who were the co-discoverers of
tungsten Tungsten (also called wolfram) is a chemical element; it has symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a metal found naturally on Earth almost exclusively in compounds with other elements. It was identified as a distinct element in 1781 and first ...
.


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. She married Dr. Thorne out of obedience, not out of love. The couple moved to
Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
,
Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
, in 1819 where she lived as an
aristocrat The aristocracy (''from Greek'' ''ἀριστοκρατία'' ''aristokratía'', "rule of the best"; ''Latin: aristocratia'') is historically associated with a "hereditary" or a "ruling" social class. In many states, the aristocracy included the ...
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 (24July 178317December 1830) was a Venezuelan statesman and military officer who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bol ...
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 Anglo-Norman ''roy'' (Old Frenc ...
of
Perú Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
, José de la Serna e Hinojosa 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), nicknamed "the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru", was an Argentine general and the primary leader of the southern and central parts of South America's succe ...
. 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 (; ), officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city, capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha Province, P ...
, where at a ball she met Simón Bolívar, eventually becoming romantically involved. Bolívar's life was much more exciting and dangerous than Dr. Thorne's, and thus Sáenz was drawn to him. Their shared vision of freedom for Spanish colonies was the driving force that kept their relationship adventurous. However, her husband missed her and begged to return to him, with the promise that he would forgive her for leaving him. She wrote to him and explained that she was not interested in restoring their marriage. She thought that he was far too serious, and that their relationship lacked passion. The qualities that she loathed in her husband were evident in Bolívar. Therefore, even through Bolívar's absence, she remained in constant contact with him. 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 l ...
s with him and visited him while he moved from one country to another. Bolívar 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 Entitlement (fair division), 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 c ...
. 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 ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
, 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 The National Army of Colombia () is the land warfare service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia. With over 361,420 active personnel as of 2020, it is the largest and oldest service branch in Colombia, and is the second largest army in the ...
'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 Bolívar 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 Bolívar. 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 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 Bolívar in the minds of some. Manuela now followed Bolívar to
Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...
. On 25 September 1828, mutinous officers attempted to assassinate Bolívar. Woken by the sound of fighting, Bolívar 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 Bolívar 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 Bolívar 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 Bolívar 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 Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...
in 1830 and died in
Santa Marta Santa Marta (), officially the Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta (), is a port List of cities in Colombia, city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is the capital of Magdalena Department and the fou ...
from
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
while he was in transit, leaving the country to exile. His death left her without fortunes, and as the political target for the national government. Historians often link the last few years of Bolívar's decline to Manuela's reputation. 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. These letter's in part cleared her reputation by disproving the stereotypes used to exaggerate the importance of Bolívar. Shortly before her 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 (April 2, 1792 – May 6, 1840) was a Neogranadine military and political leader who served as Vice-President of Gran Colombia between 1819 and 1826, and was later elected by Congress as the President ...
, who returned to power after Bolívar's death then exiled Manuela. She went to
Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
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, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
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 List of heads of state of Ecuador, President of Ecuador from 10 September 1834 to 31 January 1839. He was born into an Aristocracy ...
, revoked her passport. She was charged with conspiracy against the Spanish crown, and was thus exiled, despite the fact that she did not get a trial. 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. . pp 226 She then took refuge in northern
Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
, 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 remained politically active and frequently wrote letters to other revolutionaries. 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 Hispanic 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 novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance (literature), American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works ar ...
, and the revolutionary
Giuseppe Garibaldi Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi ( , ;In his native Ligurian language, he is known as (). In his particular Niçard dialect of Ligurian, he was known as () or (). 4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) was an Italian general, revolutionary and republican. H ...
. 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. . pp 232 In 1847, her husband was murdered in Pativilca and she was denied her 8,000 pesos
inheritance Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...
.
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, physica ...
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 bacteria, bacterium ''Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild Course (medicine), clinical course, but in some outbreaks, the mortality rate approaches 10%. Signs a ...
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. . 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).” '' 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. 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. . 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 a 20th-century term for an 18th-century 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 shou ...
” 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. . 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. . 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. . pp 256


Sexual orientation and LGBT rights activism

Manuela Sáenz was a bisexual woman. J. B. Boussingault wrote in his memoirs about her "inexplicably close relationships" with her friends Polycarpa and Baltasara. After her death, Sáenz became a symbol not only of feminism, but also of the struggle of sexual minorities (including
homosexual Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between people of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" exc ...
and transgender people) for their rights. Her name appealed to many, offering to control the example of the Netherlands and legalize
same-sex marriage in Ecuador Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ecuador since 8 July 2019 in accordance with a Constitutional Court of Ecuador, Constitutional Court ruling issued on 12 June 2019 that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional under the Constitution ...
. Robert T. Conn, however, wrote that there is no clear evidence that Manuela entered into same-sex relationships, but he noted that she had 'behavioral bisexuality'.


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, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
. 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 Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
,
Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
and
Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
to
Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
. Those remains were laid in the National Pantheon of Venezuela where those of Bolívar are also memorialized.


Legacy

After the revolution, Manuela effectively faded from literature. Between 1860 and 1940 only three
Ecuadorian Ecuadorians () 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 collectively the source o ...
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 Gender roles, roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as Social construction of gender, socially constructed, and there is also s ...
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 generalization, 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 ...
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 ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...
of the 1980s and
nationalism Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation, Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: Theory, I ...
of the 1960s – 1970s. Portrayals within the fictional '' The General in His Labyrinth'' by
Gabriel García Márquez Gabriel José García Márquez (; 6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian writer and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo () or Gabito () throughout Latin America. Considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th centur ...
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 or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation, Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: Theory, I ...
that were represented through Manuela's participation within the wars of independence. Manuela became increasingly popular with
radical Radical (from Latin: ', root) may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Classical radicalism, the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and Latin America in the 19th century *Radical politics ...
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, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
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 high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
.


Museo Manuela Sáenz

The Museo Manuela Sáenz is a museum in Old Town,
Quito Quito (; ), officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city, capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha Province, P ...
, 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, stamps, and paintings.


Biographical writings

* "The Four Seasons of Manuela". Biography by Victor Wolfgang von Hagen (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 Pablo Neruda ( ; ; born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto; 12 July 190423 September 1973) was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Neruda became known as a poet when he was 13 years old an ...
, Ricardo Palma, Victor von Hagen, Vicente Lecuma, German Arciniegas, Alfonso Rumazo, Pedro Jorge Vera, Jorge Salvador Lara, Jorge Enrique Adoum, Mario Briceño Perozo, Mary Ferrero, Benjamín Carrión, Jorge Villalba S.J., Leonardo Altuve, Juan Liscano (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.


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 Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
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 Bolívar family 19th-century Colombian people Colombian women Colombian feminists Viceroyalty of New Granada people Ecuadorian LGBTQ rights activists Bisexual women politicians 19th-century Peruvian LGBTQ people