Manuela Sáenz

A revolutionary heroine in Latin America’s independence movements, known for her role in protecting Simón Bolívar and leading guerrilla campaigns against Spanish rule.

Manuela Sáenz (1797–1856) was an Ecuadorian revolutionary and lover of Simón Bolívar, playing a pivotal role in Latin America’s struggle for independence. Born in Quito (now Ecuador), she joined independence movements early, becoming a key figure in Bolívar’s inner circle. Her most famous act was foiling an assassination plot against Bolívar in 1828, which earned her the nickname “The Liberator of the Liberator.”

Beyond her association with Bolívar, Sáenz organized guerrilla fighters, managed military logistics, and advocated for women’s rights. After Bolívar’s death, she continued advocating for independence in Peru and Colombia, though her later life was marked by political exile and obscurity. Modern historians have reevaluated her contributions, recognizing her as a central figure in regional liberation struggles. Explore her story through Wikipedia or the biography "The Forgotten Heroine of the Latin American Independence".

Her legacy was overshadowed for centuries due to gender biases, but recent scholarship has highlighted her strategic brilliance and courage, cementing her place among Latin America’s most impactful revolutionaries.