Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez

Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez was a very important woman in the initial process of the struggle to achieve independence from Mexico. Popularly known as “ La Corregidora ” , Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez had a spirit of decision and her own ideas that made her play an important role throughout the process. Without their work, the first insurrection of this Aztec nation would have practically not been possible.

Biography of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez

Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez was born on April 19 in Mexico City , in 1773 and was baptized by her parents on September 16 of the same year with the full name of María de la Natividad Josefa Crescencia Ortiz Téllez-Girón . Her parents died when she was just a child, so she lived with her older sister, María Sotero Ortiz, who was in charge of giving her education and training. She was one of the few girls who managed to get an education at that time.

She studied at the Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola , an educational center located in Mexico City, in this place, she managed to obtain the education that a girl could receive at that time, she learned to cook, to sew, a little mathematics , to read and write . In this school she also met Miguel Domínguez Trujillo who was a lawyer and a senior government official with whom she fell in love.

Death

He died on March 2, 1829 due to health complications caused by a disease called pleurisy. Her remains were deposited in the Querétaro cemetery , inside a mausoleum where the remains of her husband also rest.

What did

La Corregidora was a woman who always fought to defend the rights of the lower social classes and to achieve a better quality of life . In her struggle, she did a great deal of social work alongside her husband. He established a series of literary groups where people met to study and discuss the ideals of The Enlightenment .

On September 13, 1810, Rafael Gil de León, who was an ecclesiastical judge , was informed about a conspiracy that was being organized in Querétaro with the objective of proclaiming the independence of Mexico , the judge informed Miguel Domínguez, however, he pretended not to know anything about the matter and informed his wife that the plans had been discovered by the Spanish authorities. Because of this, he decided to lock his wife and children in a room, but Josefa decided to intervene and give notice to the revolutionaries . It was thanks to Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez that, through Mayor Ignacio Pérez, a note sent to Cura Hidalgowill arrive with greater speed, thus managing to advance the famous cry of Mexican independence , on September 16, 1810.

Main achievements of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez

The main achievements of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez were the following:

• He actively participated in the organization of the independence movement
• He gave notice to the conspirators after realizing that the Spanish had learned of the Querétaro conspiracy.
• He managed to notify the priest Hidalgo and Allende on time about the plans against independence.

Parents

His father was Juan José Ortiz who was captain of the regiment and who died during the war when Josefa was a child and his mother María Manuela Téllez-Girón y Calderón who also died when Josefa was around four years old.

Husband

Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez secretly married Miguel Domínguez Trujillo , a man who had a very important role within the viceroyalty as he was an official of the Royal Treasury. The marriage took place on January 24, 1793 .

Offspring

A total of eleven children were born from their marriage . Her husband already had three children from a previous marriage so together they raised their 14 children in total.

Importance

She was a very important woman to achieve the independence of Mexico because thanks to the notification she made to Father Hidalgo, the cry of independence could be made before being attacked. Thanks to her, many of the conspirators also managed to escape and thus avoided being arrested. She is in fact considered the mother of independence since it is considered that without her action, the struggle to achieve freedom and independence would not have been possible and probably would have been a failure.

Acknowledgments

Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez is considered to date as a true national heroine, as a Benemérita de la Patria and as part of the important characters who participated in the founding of Mexico as an independent country. For his work, several recognitions have been made that praise his work. His name is inscribed in gold letters on the famous Wall of Honor, which is located in the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro.

His image has appeared several times on the faces of bills and coins. A couple of statues were made in order to honor his memory, one of them is located in Plaza de Santo Domingo in Mexico City and the second in Plaza Corregidora located in Santiago de Querétaro. Many schools and public institutions also bear his name, as does the Santiago Stadium in the city of Querétaro.

Clothing

She is always represented with a traditional Mexican black dress , a veil on her back that she used to tie in the front and an adornment typical of the area on her head.

Phrases by Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez

There is only a record of an important phrase that has been mentioned by Josefa, this phrase says the following:

• Many soldiers to guard a poor woman, however, with my blood I will be able to give a heritage to my children.

Curiosities

Some curiosities that not all people know about this important Mexican patriot and heroine are the following:

• It was known by the name of La Corregidora de Querétaro .
• She was guilty of treason and imprisoned .
• He never wanted to receive any kind of reward for his support of the cause of Independence.
• She was orphaned by both parents when she was just a little girl.
• Some people say they had as lover to Miguel Hidalgo .
• So that they would not identify his handwriting, the letter he made for the priest and for Ignacio Allende , he made using letters printed from newsprint .
• She rejected the title of Maid of Honor that Agustín de Iturbide wanted to give her .
• She worked for a time as a royal secretary of the treasury and in the viceroyalty of New Spain .
• He fought for the rights of indigenous people to be recognized.