MANUELA CAÑIZARES: BIOGRAPHY AND PHRASES - BIOGRAPHIES - 2025

Manuela Cañizares (1769-1814) was an Ecuadorian heroine, known for having contributed in a notorious way to the first independence processes in her country. Cañizares was the host and participant in an important meeting of patriots where the course of the insurrection in Ecuador was determined.

Cañizares is remembered in Ecuadorian history as the woman who forced the patriots, gathered in their home on the night of August 9, 1809, to deliver the revolutionary coup on the morning of August 10 of that same year. Notable men such as Juan Pío Montúfar, Juan Salinas, Juan de Dios Morales and Manuel Quiroga, among others, were present at that meeting.

Portrait of young Manuela Cañizares. Source: Antonio Andrade

The authors María Daniela Hidalgo and María José Lasso, in their article Who was Manuela Cañizares? Beyond the Ecuadorian revolution (2016), they affirm that this first contribution to Ecuadorian independence would not have been possible without the determination of Manuela Cañizares, who is considered by the majority as one of the heroes of Independence.

Furthermore, the historian Manuel de Guzmán Polanco, in his text Manuela Cañizares, the heroine of the Independence of Ecuador (2006), establishes that Manuela fervently believed in the idea that the Creoles would only assert their rights if they ended their dependence on the Crown. Spanish.

Likewise, the heroine publicly proclaimed the need to establish a government of its own that had the primal right of sovereignty and autonomy. Manuela Cañizares was attributed a clean and discreet character; She was a serious middle-aged lady, who earned her living by handicrafts and lace making.

Biography

Family and personality

Although the name of Manuela Cañizales appears constantly in different historical sources, in almost no publication can one find a biography that fully covers the life of this woman.

The contemporary historian Pedro Fermín Cevallos, in his summary of the history of Ecuador (1870), defined Cañizales as a woman of masculine character, whose spirits made even the most distrustful men yield.

Later, in 2001 the historians Piedad Peñaherrera and Alfredo Costales made a compendium where they dedicated a notable section to heroin. In this text, some elements of the family environment and Manuela's private life are presented.

These investigators established that, although Manuela affirmed in her will that she was born in Quito, neither her death nor birth certificate has been found in this capital. However, it is considered that she was born in 1769 and that she died in 1814, when she was just 45 years old as a result of an accident (which was never specified in any source).

It was also possible to determine that his parents were Isabel Álvarez y Cañizares and Miguel Bermúdez Cañizares (who were first cousins). He had three brothers: María Cañizares (with whom he lived), Mariano and José, whom the heroine named in the will.

It is important to emphasize that Manuela was the product of an illegitimate union, so her father did not take care of her. In addition, his mother - although she belonged to a distinguished family - did not have good financial resources. For this reason, Manuela assumed an independent stance and had to learn to survive on her own from an early age.

Other aspects of your life

There are very few documents on Manuela, so she is a woman without papers. The first time its existence was mentioned in the political framework was on August 10, 1809; when the heroes of the insurrection began to pronounce her name with emphasis, since without her encouragement they would not have taken the necessary risks to achieve freedom. Even her adversaries called her "the strong woman."

Regarding his education, there is no notable information either. According to Manuel de Guzmán Polanco, Manuela must have received some studies in accordance with the customs of the city of Quito, since the woman knew how to write, read and had knowledge of arithmetic.

This data is interesting for researchers, since at that time many women did not have to write or read, as this facilitated the exchange of letters with unwanted lovers by parents or guardians. Manuela, on the other hand, even had the power to write personal accounts, where she registered her personal and real estate.

In fact, it is known that in 1805 he bought Gregoria Salazar's farm, located in Cotocollao, for 800 pesos. Later, Manuela rented this house to Pedro Calderón, who paid 151 pesos annually.

Then he moved to a parish house located next to the El Sagrario church. By then, the heroine was already a recognized saloniere, a word used to designate the enlightened women who organized meetings in order to talk about literature, politics, the arts, science and also gossip.

Over time, both the women and men of Quito's high society became regular visitors to Manuela, known for being a gracious and gracious hostess. In those gatherings she met Manuel Rodríguez de Quiroga, with whom she developed a remarkable friendship and who led her to participate later in the cause of Independence.

Participation on August 9, 1809

On the night of August 9, 1809, Cañizares was the host of a meeting between 38 important people in the political sphere, which was disguised as one more social gathering than heroin frequently organized.

During the night, the group of Quito patriots showed fear and doubt about the idea of ​​starting the revolutionary movement. Seeing this, Manuela took determination and incited them to start the insurrection. This simple act made this woman one of the protagonists of the independence movement and perpetuated her in the history books.

After the insurrection started, Manuela had to take shelter in a house located in the Valle de los Chillos, since the royalists considered that she knew too much about the rebels.

Meanwhile, in the city a criminal procedure was established that aimed to eradicate the rebels. Eventually, Manuela was able to return to Quito, but she remained a refugee in the home of her friends Antonia Luna and Miguel Silva.

Patriotic meeting at Manuela's house. Source: Unknown (early 20th century)

Last years

On August 27, 1814, Manuela made her will. In this document, she declared that she had suffered an accident and stated that she was a single woman without children. She also confessed that she had earned her living by making lace and renting dresses. Likewise, the heroine said that she still had her farm in Cotocollao, where cattle ranching was practiced.

Some historians claim that Manuela passed away a couple of months later, specifically on December 15. This theory is supported by the fact that the purchase of the Cotocollao farm, acquired by Josefa Cáceres in 1815 for 1950 pesos, dates from that date.

It is still not known exactly where Cañizares died. Historians such as José Dolores Monsalve establish that it happened in the Santa Clara convent, but other researchers affirm that she died hidden in the Valle de los Chillos ranch.

In homage to this remarkable woman, President Eloy Alfaro Delgado in 1905 decided to found the first secular college for women in the country, naming it Manuela Cañizares.

Famous phrases

Manuela Cañizares, when encouraging the patriots who were undecided, exclaimed: “Cowards! Men born for servitude… What are you afraid of? There is no time to lose!" With this phrase, Manuela became a hero of the independence movement in Ecuador.

There are no records of other words said in life by Manuela, however, some testimonies and descriptions have been collected about this Ecuadorian heroine:

“It's nine at night. A woman with a strong, brave, patriotic and passionate spirit, Manuela Cañizares, welcomes Juan de Dios Morales, Juan Salinas, and Manuel Rodríguez de Quiroga into her room (…) Doña Manuela welcomes you with the enthusiasm of her patriotic sensitivity, she does not shy away Rather, his example comforts them ”. Dr. Manuel María Borrero.

"Many have wanted to tarnish the name of Manuela Cañizares, seeing accusations against her private life, but no one will ever be able to erase her name as that of the most valuable heroine of Independence" Efrén Avilés Pino.

“Doña Manuela Cañizares did not belong to her time because of her noble ideals; She was adorable for her beauty, she enchanted for her talent, she prevailed over the patriots for her character, and she made Independence with her courage; time already brings reparation; glory shines her name; the Homeland will make it immortal ”Ángel Polibio Chávez.

"That woman with a manly breath, whose influence and temperance of mind yielded even to the most distrustful and fearful" Dr. Pedro Fermín Cevallos.

"Undoubtedly, among all the patriotic women of that time, none has the importance of Doña Manuela Cañizares for the active part she took in the public events of those memorable times" Ángel Polibio Chávez.

“Doña Manuela appears again. Radiate the thought on your forehead; her sparkling gaze gives off gleams of inspiration and seems to read in the invisible book of the future destinies of this hemisphere ”Dr. Rafael María de Guzmán.

“With his fiery word, he replaces the courage of the ones, and encourages and decides those who fear and hesitate; and there, at the impulse and inspiration of that sublime woman, the Próceres rounded up the insurrection plan ”Dr. Rafael María de Guzmán.

References

1. García, A. (2016) The silenced heroines in the Latin American independences. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from Google books: books.google.co.ve
2. Gerlach, A. (2003) Indians, oil and politics: a recent history of Ecuador. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from Google books: books.google.com
3. Hidalgo, M; Lasso, M. (2016) Who was Manuela Cañizares? Beyond the Ecuadorian revolution. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from nuevamujer.com
4. Lauderbaugh, G. (2012) The history of Ecuador. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from Google books: books.google.com
5. Pérez, G. (2001) Eloy Alfaro and Manuela Cañizares: two figures of freedom. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from Google books: books.google.co.ve
6. Polanco, M. (2006) Manuela Cañizares, the heroine of the independence of Ecuador. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from archive.org
7. SA (sf) Latin American heroines: Woman, raise your dignified and rebellious voice. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from cedema.org
8. SA (sf) Manuela Cañizares. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org