Biography:
Manuela Hurtado y Pedraza, better known as Manuela la tucumanesa, was a patriotic woman who played a significant role in the reconquest of Buenos Aires following the first British invasion of 1806. Although the precise details of her birth and death remain unknown, her contributions and bravery during the reconquest were acknowledged and celebrated.
During the reconquest, which lasted three days from August 10 to 12, 1806, Manuela fought alongside her husband, who served as a corporal in the Argentine army under the command of Santiago de Liniers. The battle took place at the heart of Buenos Aires, where the Spanish Fortress (now the Casa Rosada) was under British control.
Tragically, on the second day of the battle, August 11, Manuela’s husband was killed by a British soldier. In a remarkable display of courage, she retaliated by killing the soldier with her own bayonet. Undeterred by her loss, she seized her husband’s musket and continued fighting, taking the life of another British soldier.
Recognizing Manuela’s valor and commitment, Liniers, the commander of the victorious local forces and future Viceroy of the Río de la Plata, appointed her to the newly formed Patricios Regiment. As an alférez (approximately equivalent to a second lieutenant), Manuela received a salary and played an active role in the defense of Buenos Aires.
Liniers himself praised her bravery, and his report about Manuela’s actions can be seen in the Museum of the Buenos Aires Cabildo. It reads: No debe omitirse el nombre de la mujer de un cabo de Asamblea, llamada Manuela la Tucumanesa, que combatiendo al lado de su marido con sublime entereza mató un inglés del que me presentó el fusil. Translation: It should not be omitted the name of the wife of a levied corporal, known as Manuela la Tucumanesa, who, while fighting alongside her husband with sublime courage, killed an Englishman and presented his captured musket to me.
Manuela Pedraza’s remarkable contributions did not go unnoticed, and her name continues to be revered in Argentina. In her honor, a street and a school in Buenos Aires bear her name. Additionally, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires grants the Mención de Honor Manuela Pedraza award to women involved in social activism in Argentina. The award seeks to acknowledge the tradition of participation in the struggles for liberty and the defense of the nation and its people, a tradition in which many have given their lives.
Manuela Pedraza’s undying spirit and bravery in the face of adversity serve as an inspiration to generations, affirming the indomitable courage of women who have fought for their homeland and played vital roles in shaping history.
Awards:
– Mención de Honor Manuela Pedraza awarded by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires to women involved in social activism in Argentina.