We had two vicereines and a Mexican marshal
- One Potosina and One Veracruzana, Virreinas
- From the Capital Family, from Abolengo, the Mariscala
- The Spouses: Spaniards Calleja and Garibay; the Frenchman Bazaine
Jorge Herrera Valenzuela
For Susana Chávez Trejo, History Lover
Let us understand that our votes on June 2 to elect the President and Congress of the Union will define the future of the new generations and for them we want a Mexico without criminal violence, with security inside and outside the home, supported by a real democratic system.
WOMEN IN ACTION
Two historical chapters caught my attention and are worth commenting on today, when Mexican women are fighting battles on many fronts, including electorally winning the Presidency of the Republic on June 2.
In this modern and cybernetic 21st century, women are involved in all the activities and responsibilities where for centuries they were prevented from acting, they were not even allowed to learn to read and write. I remember the country phrase: “the woman is like the shotgun, reloaded and behind the door.”
Unless I am mistaken, the only profession where the queen is the woman is that of Educator. Preschool or kindergarten education, preschool, had as a background what I knew and attended “kindergartens” in lThe rural school of Santa Ursula Xitla, Tlalpan.
Currently, the printed, radio and television journalistic media are “invaded” by girls who also read news, make analyzes or comments, and stand out on television stations dedicated to broadcasting sports. The first diarist reporter in “the presidential source” was the Tlalpujahuense (Michoacan) Elvira Vargasin 1930. Pascual Ortiz Rubio was the president.
Two glories of Mexican sport: the fencer María del Pilar Roldán Tapia and in weight lifting, Soraya Jimenez Mendivil. The first silver medal was obtained by Pilar, at the Mexico 68 Olympics and five years later at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Soraya won the gold.
THE FIRST VICE QUEEN
When reviewing the 302 years of New Spain, I found that there were two viceroys of Mexican origin. History was also made by a woman who married a French invader and fighter, whom she would rescue from a European prison.
The first viceroy was born in the Port of Veracruz. She was called Francisca Javiera de Echegaray y Bosioclose friend of the famous and beautiful María Ignacia “La Güera Rodríguez” Ruiz de Velasco. This female character was part of the life of Emperor Agustín de Iturbide; both recognized in the high society of the 19th century.
The Jarocha woman from Buenos Aires belonged to a high society family, with a lot of money, hence her relationships with the aristocracy of New Spain. Francisca Javiera and her husband met with “La Güera” Rodríguez and attended gatherings at the Convento de la Encarnación. The couple met at a dance organized by him for the beautiful 27-year-old girl.
There is little literature surrounding the marriage of Francisca Javiera and Pedro Garibay or Pedro de Garibaywho from a young age demonstrated courage, audacity and knowledge as a soldier, participating in many battles in Italy and France.
At the age of 38, in 1764, he arrived in New Spain and had the support of King Charles IV, “famous” in Mexico for being the rider of the equestrian statue of “El Caballito”. Pedro began his career in Aztec lands with the rank of Argento Major and in 1808 he received the appointment of Viceroy, a position he held for less than a year.
Upon leaving the government, Garibay and his family lived in poverty, due to his honesty. He was already married to the woman from Veracruz.
The king sent him a pension of 500 pesos per month and the wealthy businessman, William Yermobased in New Spain, granted him a pension of 100 thousand pesos per year.
He returned to Spain and died in 1815, at the age of 86, after receiving the Cross of Charles III, lieutenant general rank.
CALLEJA’S WIFE
A 20-year-old girl, born in the capital of San Luis Potosí, married the Spanish soldier who fought the Insurgentes commanded by Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allendedefeating them in the Battle of the Calderón Bridge, in the Guadalajara leaks, on January 17, 1811.
Orphaned of mother and father, at a very young age, María Francisca de la Gándara y Cardona, was left in the care of his paternal uncle Manuel de la Gándara. He was “of good family,” as those who belonged to a high social class were called, colloquially.
In a building built in the 16th century, in the Plaza de Armas, the De la Gándara aristocrats resided. The house was long known as The House of the Vicereinatoday houses the restaurant La Posada del Virrey, where you can taste the regional dishes of Potosí, you will not regret consuming them.
María Francisca met Felix Maria Calleja del Reywho was twice his age and they fell in love, deciding to get married in the Temple of San Sebastián, in the capital of Potosí, in 1806. They received the blessing of the parish priest Manuel Braceras and their godparents were Manuel José Rincón Gallardo, Marquis of Guadalupe Gallardo, and Doña Ignacia de la Gándara.
Three women and two men were born from the marriage. The first-born died very young María de la Concepción Eligia Francisca de Paula Trinidad of the Holy Cross and the first son baptized with the names of Félix María José de Guadalupe Pascual Francisco de Padua. The survivors had short names: María Guadalupe, Félix María and María del Carmen. All surnames Calleja de la Gándara.
Once Félix María Calleja’s triple mission was over, the couple went to Spain. She never returned to Mexico. The soldier commanded the royalist forces against the Insurgent Movement, was the Senior Political Chief and the penultimate Viceroy.
Calleja died on July 24, 1828 and the Mexican Vicereina on July 23, 1855, in Valencia.
María Francisca in 1810 was kidnapped by insurgent leaders and taken to the Hacienda del Peñasco, from where she was freed when her husband accepted that General Rafael Irarte would rescue his wife held in an insurgent barracks. For the release of Mrs. Calleja, the safe conduct was signed by the insurgent leader Juan Aldama.
The building of Jardín Hidalgo 3, in the Main Plaza, in the capital of Potosí, contains a long history, as does that of the military man and politician Calleja del Rey.
GODDAUGHTER AND WITCH OF CARLOTA
They say that life takes many turns, surprises come unexpectedly and opportunity presents itself once.
Josefa Peña Azcaratecalled by his friends Pepita Peña and baptized with the names of María Josefa de las Angustias Bonifacia Brígida Federica Feliciana de la Santísima Trinidadwas a society lady who died in poverty when she was widowed.
It turns out that Pepita Peña, born in the Capital of New Spain, gave her love to a French soldier, a commander who participated in the French invasion and fought with the most powerful Army in the world against the distinguished and patriotic Mexican Army under the orders of Ignacio Saragossa.
He was the Marshal François Achille Bazaine. Nugget, La Mariscala. Another wedding with characters of unequal ages. The Frenchman was no less than 54 years old, and the Mexican girl was barely 17. The social interaction between the elegant, economically rich families was frequent and was attended by the husband and wife Francisco Ramón Blas Peña and Josefa Azcarate Vera Villavicencio, accompanied by the beautiful Pepita .
They just arrived Maximilian and Charlotte, Bazaine offered them a sumptuous reception with a ball at his residence, the Palace of the Count of Buenavista. As a wedding gift the Emperor gave that palace, saying “We give Marshal Bazaine the Buenavista Palace.”.
Friendship increased between the two couples. The first son of the Bazaine Peña was named after his godfather: Maximilian. The compadrazgo was preceded by the fact that the Emperor and the Empress were the godparents at the religious wedding in the Chapel of the Imperial Palace, today the National Palace.
Mariscala by marriage, the only Mexican who had the grace to be Goddaughter and Wife of Charlotte.
In 1867, 28,000 French soldiers retreated and invaded and attacked us. Bazaine and Pepita packed to leave for Europe on a ship. They were with Maximilian and his daughter Eugene was about to be born. The couple had a good reception in Paris. There was a third son, Alfonso, also born in France.
Marshal Bazaine’s glory is over. After the French defeat by the Prussians. At that time, Bazaine was in prison, sentenced to death for treason. His wife managed to get the French president to exchange his sentence for 20 years in prison.
The prisoner was taken to Santa Margarita Island. Pepita devised an escape plan. Bazaine would climb down a wall, using a thick rope, and fall into a boat where his wife was. To do this, she relied on the tower guards, who did not notice the prisoner’s escape.
First they arrived in London and some time later they traveled to Madrid, where King Alfonso XIII gave them protection. Very ill François Achille Bazaine dies in poverty and his remains remain in a Spanish cemetery. Pepita was already back in Mexico and claimed that the government would pay her 100,000 pesos or return the Buenavista Palace. Obviously the time was different. She didn’t give him a nickel and there was no refund..
On January 6, 1900, the viceroy who lived in wealth, died in her home in San Agustín de las Cuevas, today the beautiful town of Tlalpan. Her remains are in the tomb of the Queretaro general Manuel Gómez Pedrazain the French Pantheon of La Piedad, in the longed-for Federal District.
Gómez Pedraza, politician and military man, was President of Mexico in 1832 and was married to María Juliana Azcarate, Pepita’s aunt.
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