Manuela Pedraza

Who is Manuela Pedraza?

Manuela Pedraza was a patriotic woman who fought in the reconquest of Buenos Aires after the first British invasion of 1806. Her participation was considered heroic during the last battle, and her role was recognized by the Commander of the Buenos Aires forces, Santiago de Liniers.

Her full name was "Manuela Hurtado de Pedraza", but she was known to all as "Manuela la tucumanesa". Even though her origin is known, the precise location, as well as her date of birth and death, are unknown.

Manuela Pedraza participated in the largest, and last, battle of the reconquest; it took place over three days at the very centre of Buenos Aires. She fought alongside her husband with the Liniers forces that surrounded the Spanish Fortress, at that moment in British hands. On the second day of the battle, August 11, her husband was killed by a British soldier; in turn, Manuela killed that soldier with her own bayonet. Immediately after, she took her husband’s musket and continued the fighting, killing another British soldier.