Ubalda García de Cañete

Who was Ubalda García de Cañete?

Ubalda García de Cañete was the eldest daughter of the Paraguayan dictator José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. Her mother was María Juana García, a mistress of de Francia. Although illegitimate, and considering that de Francia was not known for any acts of kindness, he nonetheless respected his daughter. One day he found her prostituting herself shortly outside his residence, and rather than punish her, he declared prostitution as a decent profession and that to be identified they must wear golden combs in their hair in the style of Spanish ladies. At some point she married Juan de la Cruz Cañete, and gave birth to a daughter, Francisca del Rosario in 1842, two years after de Francia's death. She died in 1890, aged 83.