An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence

Manuela Eras y Gandarillas

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Children at the Manuela E. Gandarillas Centre	Monument Cochabamba	Bicentenary Heroines of Cerro de San Sebastian	Manuela E. Gandarillas Rehabilitation Centre
Monument Cochabamba	Monument Cochabamba

Gender:Female

Ethnic origen: Unknown

Events:

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Biography:
Of "carácter varonil y audacia heroica" ("masculine nature and heroic boldness"), she took part in the collective sacrifice of San Sebastián hill , Cochabamba, Bolivia, in the attack on the royalist barracks in 1812. She led a group of women crying "Si ya no hay hombres, aquí estamos nosotras, para enfrentarnos al enemigo, y morir por la patria" ("if there are no men left, here we are to face the enemy and to die for the fatherland.") Their example inspired the few men who were left in the plaza. (Urquidi, 202-203). Today in Bolivia, Mother’s day is celebrated on 27 May to commemorate the "heroines of the Hill of San Sebastián".

References:

Urquidi, José Macedonio (1918) Bolivianas ilustres, heroinas, escritoras, artistas, Tomo I