María Parado de Bellota

A Peruvian independence fighter who led armed resistance against Spanish colonial rule and became Latin America's first female military commander.

María Parado de Bellota (1774–1854) was a Quechua warrior who became Peru's first female military leader during the 1820s independence movement. Born in Cusco to an indigenous family, she joined the rebellion after Spanish forces executed her husband. In 1821 she organized 300 volunteers to defend the Andean village of Urcos from royalist forces, using guerrilla tactics to disrupt supply lines.

Her most famous achievement was the 1823 Battle of Quinua, where she commanded 800 troops against 2,000 Spanish soldiers. Though outnumbered, her forces secured a strategic victory using mountainous terrain advantage. She later led supply convoys through enemy territory, delivering weapons to Simón Bolívar's forces in Ayacucho.

Bellota's military innovations included:
- Developing the Andean ambush tactic using local terrain knowledge
- Creating early supply networks between indigenous communities and independence forces
- Training mixed-gender combat units

Despite her contributions, official military records omitted her role until 1990. Modern historians recognize her as a key figure in Andean resistance movements. Her memoir 《Recollections of a Mountain Warrior》 (1847) provides rare indigenous perspectives on the independence wars. The Peruvian government now honors her with the María Parado de Bellota Military School for cadets from indigenous communities.

Contemporary impact:
- Symbol of indigenous resistance against colonialism
- Precedent for women in military leadership
- Inspiration for modern Peruvian feminist movements