CHRONICLE. GA2-240202501-AA1-EV03

 CHRONICLE

POLYCARPA SALAVARRIETA RIOS

She was born in Guaduas on January 26, 1795. She was a

heroine in Colombia who inspired the Creole independence

forces during the Spanish reconquest. Policarpa grew up in

a wealthy family, she was respected and had enough in the

town of Guaduas, she was the fifth of seven siblings, the

Salavarrieta Rios family house in Guaduas is still preserved,

converted into a museum.

The family moved to live in Santafe de Bogota in 1797, they

settled in a low house made of walls and tiles in the Santa

Barbara neighborhood. His father, mother and two of his

brothers died due to a smallpox pandemic in the capital in 1802.

Policarpa worked as a seamstress, a job she later carried out in Santafe. Some claim that she taught

in public schools, an activity that required a certain training, which was not very common for women of

her condition at that time.

During the time of the Spanish reconquest and terror, the population shared the patriotic spirit.

Apparently, before 1810 Policarpa was not involved in political activities. But in 1817, when he moved

to Santafe, he already participated in them. From Guaduas he began his patriotic work. When Pola and

her brother Bibiano entered the capital, they were carrying false safe-conduct passes and carrying a

letter written by Ambrosio Almeyda and Jose Rodriguez, two leaders of the patriotic guerrillas. One of

their tasks was to sew the women of the royalists to listen to news and movements so that the guerrillas

could triumph in the ambushes. La Pola was arrested with her brother, she was immediately remanded

to the dungeon at the Colegio Mayor del Rosario, a court martial sentenced her to death on November

10, 1817. The time set for his execution was 9 in the morning on November 14, 1817, Pola marched

with two priests at his side and stopped to express his thoughts. He shouted the courage to die for the

freedom of the country, he said:

-Vile soldiers, turn your weapons to the enemies of your country, indolent people! How different your

fate would be today if you knew the price of freedom! But it is not too late, see that even though I am a

woman and young, I have more than enough courage to suffer death and a thousand more deaths. Do

not forget this example, miserable people, I pity you, one day you will have more dignity! I am dying to

defend the rights of my country.

The case of Pola captivated the popular imagination, her mother inspired poets, writers and playwrights

to immortalize her disastrous end, a monument was inaugurated in Guaduas and in 1910 another in

Bogota.

Bibliografía: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policarpa_Salavarrieta