Known as the “Madre de la Patria” (Mother of the Homeland), the Afro-Argentine camp follower turned soldier participated in the Argentine War of Independence. She did not only lose her entire family during the war, but was wounded, captured, and imprisoned. This is her storyBorn in Buenos Aires around 1768, María was one of the few women who fought in the wars of Independence. Not much was known about her after the conflict until 1826 when she applied for compensation for services her family offered during the Argentine War of Independence. Weak and not in good health to work, María resorted to begging for alms in the streets of the City of Buenos Aires.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 06, 2021 19:01 UTC