Maria Nuñez del Arco

Peruvian revolutionary leader who fought for independence and women's rights

Maria Nuñez del Arco (1790–1860) was a fearless Amazonian warrior who played a pivotal role in Peru's struggle for independence from Spanish rule. Born into the Yanesha indigenous community, she joined José de San Martín's liberation army in 1819, becoming one of the few female combatants in the South American campaigns. Known as 'La Leona del Amazonas' (The Lioness of the Amazon), she led guerrilla attacks against royalist forces using her deep knowledge of the rainforest terrain.

After independence, Nuñez del Arco became an advocate for indigenous rights and women's participation in politics. She established the first school for indigenous girls in Pucallpa and petitioned the government to recognize native land rights. Her memoir Memorias de una Amazona (1835) remains a key primary source for understanding Amazonian perspectives on the independence era.

Her legacy is commemorated through Peru's Maria Nuñez del Arco National Park and a Wikipedia page. Modern historians highlight her unique role bridging indigenous struggles with broader Latin American independence movements, making her a symbol of resistance against both colonialism and gender oppression.