Policarpa Salavarrieta

La Pola 1855, painting by José María Espinosa Prieto (1796–1883)

Policarpa Salavarrieta , called La Pola , (* around 1795 in Guaduas near Bogotá , † November 14, 1817 in Bogotá) was a Colombian independence fighter.

Salavarrieta, who was orphaned at an early age , came from the rural lower class and came into contact with the ideas of Colombian independence from the Spanish viceroyalty of New Granada ( causa patriota ) in her youth , as her hometown was used by rebels as a retreat. At 17 she went to Bogotá to work as a dressmaker, where she worked in the houses of the upper class, but also had access to the political circles of the Colombian patriots, with whose cause she sympathized. In 1812 she was entrusted with espionage tasks by a colonel from the ranks of the conspiradores , since her activity allowed her to go in and out of political opponents without arousing suspicion. She obtained and passed on information about the strength and plans of the Spanish military in the country, organized material support for the rebels and instigated soldiers to desert .

Despite a search ordered by the newly appointed field marshal, commanding officer in Bogotá and later viceroy Juan de Sámano after the discovery of information and goods smuggling in autumn 1817, Salavarrieta refused to flee and continued her work, was arrested and in November of the recently founded "Permanent Council of War" ( Consejo Permanente de Guerra ) sentenced to death. On November 14, she was shot with seven other rebels in Bogotá.

In life as in the face of death, Salavarrieta is ascribed particular steadfastness and heroism. Soon her fate was often processed poetically. Historians and biographers of the 19th century sometimes stylized her as a representative of the archetype of the classic female heroine of freedom. Nevertheless, their historically guaranteed actions in a male-dominated environment, as well as their poor origin, still offer other points of contact to this day.

Salavarrietas is considered the most important woman in the struggle for independence. Her body found its way into the national pantheon in the Vera Cruz Church in Bogotá. Streets, schools and places bear their names. Her likeness is depicted on several Colombian banknotes, currently on the 10,000 peso banknote. Like other heroes of the struggle for freedom, she also appeared on a series of stamps on the 100th anniversary of independence in 1910. The anniversary of her death has been the official day of Colombian women since 1967 .

Web links

Commons : Policarpa Salavarrieta  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Jenny Jungehülsing: Policarpa Salavarrieta, heroine of Colombian independence , article on the Heinrich Böll Foundation website
• Policarpa Salavarrieta. In: FemBio. Women's biography research (with references and citations).