GERTRUDIS BOCANEGRA - LA HEROINA DE PATZCUARO

ON THIS DAY IN MEXICO - INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF MEXICO

Born in Patzcuaro on April 11, 1765, Gertrudis Bocanegra is famed as the heroine of Patzcuaro for her involvement in the Mexican War of Independence. In 1817, she was arrested and tortured, before her final execution at the Plaza de San Augustin in Patzcuaro, on October 11, 1817. According to records, Bocanegra remained a true martyr to her last breath, berating her executioners through her final moments.

QUICK FACTS

• Her parents were Pedro Javier Bocanegra and Feliciana Mendoza, who were Spanish

• Though unusual for her time, Bocanegra was literate and read academic literature by authors who were later considered part of the Age of Enlightenment.

• Bocanegra spoke P'urepecha and delved into other indigenous languages

• She was married to Pedro Advincula de la Vega, and they had 2 sons and 4 daughters.

• Her husband and one of her sons, Jose Manuel Advncula Bocanegra, joined the fight for independence when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla came through Valladolid (now Morelia) in October 1810.

• Her husband and son were both killed at the Battle of the Puente de Calderon, which was fought on the banks of the Calderon river, east of Guadalajara.

• After her husband and son were killed, Bocanegra became involved in the fight for independence. Her efforts assisted an incredible communications network that assisted rebel forces in the Lake Patzcuaro region, and as far away as Tacambaro.

• Her full name was Maria Gertrudis Teodora Bocanegra Lazo Mendoza.

• She was portrayed by Ofelia Medina in the 1992 film Gertrudis

• It is suggested in the film, that Bocanegra had a P'urepecha Nanny, who was who taught her the P'urepecha language.

• There were only ever two biographies written about Gertrudis Bocanegra.

• She was 52 when she was executed.

• Her bronze statue was erected in Plaza Chica, where she is also featured in Juan O'Gorman's famous 1942 mural, which can be seen in the Patzcuaro Library at Plaza Chica.

WATCH THE FILM HERE!

The quality is not great, and we haven't found this with English subtitles yet, but if you are practicing your Spanish, here is a great opportunity to test yourself!