Gertrudis Bocanegra facts for kids
María Gertrudis Teodora Bocanegra Mendoza (born April 11, 1765 – died October 11, 1817) was a brave woman who played an important part in the Mexican War of Independence. This war was fought to make Mexico free from Spanish rule. Gertrudis was caught by the Spanish army, tortured, and then sadly executed in 1817.
Life of Gertrudis Bocanegra
Gertrudis Bocanegra was born in a town called Pátzcuaro, which is now in the Mexican state of Michoacán. Her parents were Pedro Javier Bocanegra and Feliciana Mendoza. She married Lieutenant Pedro Advíncula Lazo de la Vega, who was a soldier for Spain. They had six children together.
What was special about Gertrudis for her time was that she loved to read. She had read books by important thinkers from the Age of Enlightenment. These books talked about new ideas like freedom and human rights.
When the Mexican War of Independence began, Gertrudis quickly decided to support the rebels. Her husband and oldest son joined the forces led by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810. Sadly, both of them died fighting in a battle called the Battle of the Puente de Calderón.
After losing her family members, Gertrudis continued to help the rebels. She worked as a messenger, carrying important information between different rebel groups in the Pátzcuaro and Tacámbaro areas. She helped create a secret communication network for the rebellion.
In 1817, Gertrudis was sent to Pátzcuaro to help the rebels take control of the city. However, someone betrayed her, and the Spanish army captured her. They tortured her to try and make her tell them the names of other rebels. But Gertrudis was very strong and brave. She refused to give any information to the Spanish soldiers.
Because she would not betray her friends, she was put on trial and found guilty of treason. She was sentenced to death. On October 11, 1817, Gertrudis Bocanegra and another rebel were executed by a firing squad in Pátzcuaro. She was 52 years old. Even when facing death, she spoke out against her executioners.
Her Legacy
Today, Gertrudis Bocanegra is remembered in Mexico as "La Heroína de Pátzcuaro" (The Heroine of Pátzcuaro). In her honor, a plaza in Pátzcuaro is named after her, and there is a bronze statue of her there. She is a symbol of courage and a hero of Mexican independence.
Sources
- This article is a loose translation of the Spanish Wikipedia article
- Salmonson, Jessica Amanda (1991). The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. page 35. ISBN: 1-55778-420-5
- "Bocanegra de Lazo de la Vega, Gertrudis," Enciclopedia de México, v. 2. Mexico City, 1988.
See also
In Spanish: Gertrudis Bocanegra para niños
