Maria Rivera de Oyarvide

Peruvian revolutionary leader who organized first women's militia during South American independence wars

Generala Maria Rivera de Oyarvide (1798-1863) founded Peru's first female military unit during the 1821-1824 independence struggle against Spain. As wife of rebel leader Antonio Oyarvide, she transformed traditional gender roles by assembling 300 women from Arequipa into a combat-ready militia known as the "Amazonas Patrióticas". Her troops provided crucial support in the 1823 Battle of Ayacucho, where they operated artillery batteries while disguised as male soldiers. Rivera developed an early field medicine system using herbal remedies from Andean traditions, saving countless lives. After independence, she established Peru's first women's rights society in 1832, advocating for property rights and education access. Her memoir Diario de una Amazona (Internet Archive) details her experiences. Modern historians recognize her contributions through the Maria Rivera National Military School (www.mariarivera.mil.pe). Her story challenges conventional narratives of Latin American independence movements, highlighting women's active military roles.