June 10, 2024 – 11:28 By Virginia Fernandez
Starting in 2022, a significant date will be added for the people of Jujuy. Its about June 10thdate on which the Jujeña Women’s Independence DayThanks to the sanction of Law 6,312. This law pays tribute to the brave women who, during the fight for Argentine independence, faced the Spanish occupation with courage and determination, playing a crucial role in the defense of the territory.
In the year of 1814, Jujuy suffered for the second time the invasion of a royalist army. The first occupation had occurred in 1812, when the mass exodus of the Jujeña population, known as the “Jujeño Exodus”, an event that marked a milestone in the resistance against the Spanish crown. Under the leadership of General Manuel Belgrano, the “scorched earth” strategy laid the foundation for the patriot victories in Tucumán and Salta. However, peace and independence were still far away.
This episode, although less known, is testimony to the heroism of the women of Jujuy. Her bravery and sacrifice were fundamental for the defense of Jujuy and Salta, contributing significantly to the cause of Argentine independence in 1814. The commemoration of Jujuy Women’s Independence Day every June 10 is a well-deserved recognition of her legacy and her extraordinary role in the history of our country.
What happened after the Jujeño Exodus in 1812?
After the reconquest of Jujuy in 1813, Belgrano’s campaign in Upper Peru ended in disaster with the defeats of Vilcapugio and Ayohúma. At the end of that year, the revolutionary forces retreated to Tucumán, leaving Jujuy and Salta again under Spanish control. The invasion led by General Joaquín de la Pezuela, a Spanish soldier known for his cruelty, spread terror in the region.
During this second occupation, in the midst of adversity and hunger, a group of women from Jujuy decided to stay in the city to continue the fight. These women dedicated themselves to espionage and seducing royalist soldiers, inciting them to desert and join the independence cause. Their actions were extremely dangerous, facing the brutality of the invaders and the constant shortage of resources.
Pezuela, upon discovering the crucial role of these women in the resistance, ordered their expulsion. On June 10, 1814, the Cabildo of Jujuy, made up of neighbors loyal to the king, debated the order. Fearing popular rejection, they decided to soften the punishment and banish the women only to Huacalera, instead of Tarija. The women, along with their children, undertook a painful journey on foot through the Humahuaca Gorge, carrying the essentials to survive.
The measure, although mitigated, did not hide the brutality of the punishment. However, the resilience of these women was demonstrated when, in August 1814, the patriot troops under the command of Martín Güemes expelled the royalists. Güemes reported that the royalists, in their hasty flight, had looted and abandoned the families in Humahuaca. It is likely that the banished women were rescued by a party of gauchos sent by Güemes to harass the retreating enemies.
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