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The saying “Behind every great man is a great woman” could not be truer of anyone than that of Manuela Sanez. To understand who Sáenz was, we must recognize her contributions to the Latin American revolution. Sáenz is probably best known for being the mistress of Simón Bolívar. A Google search of Sáenz will undoubtedly bring about titles such as “Manuela Sáenz, Simón Bolívar’s lover and rebel” or “Venezuela honors Simón Bolívar’s lover Manuela Sáenz”; whereas a search of Simón Bolívar brings about titles such as “Simón Bolívar, Freedom Fighter” or “Simón Bolívar, Rebel Leader”. This leads us to ask, why are Sáenz’s accomplishments mentioned second to that of her love affair, while Simón Bolívar’s story is centered on his accomplishments? While Sáenz was Bolívar’s lover, she was much more than that. Sáenz was a pioneer in what would become the fight for women’s equality (albeit unbeknownst to her), and a rebel to societal norms as well as a revolutionary, who fought for independence from Spain. She was passionate about political reform and passionate to support Bolívar in his quest to free Latin America from Spain’s grasp. She was unafraid to fight for what she believed in, to the point of putting herself in danger to protect Bolívar. Sáenz was undoubtedly the great woman behind the great man, Simón Bolívar.
Sáenz was born out of wedlock on December 27, 1797, in Quinto, Ecuador. She was the daughter of a Spanish adventurer and nobleman, Simón Sáenz de Vergara, and Maria Joaquina de Aispuro, (who was well off, and part of an aristocratic family, herself). Sáenz’s upbringing was unlike many women of the time. She grew up in the home of her maternal grandparents, before leaving Quinto with her mother for their Catahuango hacienda. It was at this hacienda where Manuela learned to ride horseback, speak English, and became friends with mostly black slaves. As a teenager, she also learned to smoke, drink, swear, and learn the passion of free love, which resulted in her being sent to a convent at age 17.
While at the Convent of Saint Catalina, she had her first love affair with a military officer and as a result was sent back home to her father. Soon thereafter, at 19 years of age, she was married off to an English merchant, James Thorne. It is in her life with Thorne that Sáenz begins to entertain members of high society, which ignites her interest in revolutionary politics.
In 1822, Sáenz left Thorne to support Bolívar in his struggle for independence. When Sáenz met General Simón Bolívar at the governor’s palace, he was at the height of his fight for independence from Spain. The two became instantly infatuated with each other. Sáenz would go on to support Bolívar in his future endeavors for freedom. She became Bolívar’s lover, and most trusted confidante and actively participated in the battles for independence. Sáenz supplied food, medicine, and aid to rebel forces, which led to her being awarded the rank of lieutenant. Sáenz was promoted to captain after actively serving in the cavalry at the Battle of Junin. She was a skilled rider, as well as skilled with a sword and pistol. Her aid to the rebel army in the Battle of Ayacucho leads to her rank of Colonel after a recommendation from General Sucre, Bolívar’s second in command.
Sáenz saved Bolívar from his political rivals twice. The first time came in Bogota, Columbia in August 1828. Unable to warn Bolívar of the plot to kill him, she showed up at the masked ball he was attending, drunk, and made a scene, forcing Bolívar to leave the gathering and ruining the planned attempt at his life. In September 1828, Sáenz again saved Bolívar’s life when she awoke in the middle of the night to hear intruders in their home, alerting Bolívar and helping him to escape through a window. The intruders questioned Sáenz, even striking her in the face before leaving without any information about Bolívar’s whereabouts. Her loyalty to saving Bolívar from the second assassination attempt earned her the nickname of “Libertadores del Liberator” or “Liberator of the Liberator” by Simón Bolívar.
Even after Bolívar’s death, Sáenz refused to give up his letters and fought to protect his legacy as a hero in the fight for independence. Sáenz was exiled by Bolívar’s rivals to Jamaica before settling in Paita, Peru. She lived out the rest of her years in poverty and persecution, making a living translating letters for soldiers, and selling tobacco and candy. However, she is still visited by noble visitors such as Giuseppe Garibaldi, Ricardo Palma, and a young Herman Melville, and was a spy for President Flores. She died November 23, 1856, at the age of 60, after a diphtheria epidemic ravaged the area. She was buried in a common grave, and the letters of Simón Bolívar were destroyed to stop the spread of the disease.
Sáenz personal fight for independence is intertwined with her love affair with Bolívar. Throughout history, Bolívar is credited for his role in the fight for independence, while Sáenz’s contributions have been largely overlooked.
In May 2007, Sáenz was symbolically given the rank of General by the Ecuadorian government. Her symbolic remains were placed alongside those of Bolívar in the National Pantheon building. These honors show us that her contributions to independence have finally been recognized. Her fight for freedom, equality, and country are finally treated equally to those of her life partner, Bolívar.
To understand why Sáenz is a hero in Ecuador, we must look at the facts and ask ourselves these questions. If it had not been for the actions of Sáenz, Bolívar would have likely been murdered in the assassination attempts. If Sáenz had not taken an active part in the battles, started women’s groups to support the cause, and fought for independence and the memory of Bolívar, would he have been as successful in his endeavors for independence? Had Bolívar been defeated or murdered before independence was achieved, would independence still have been achieved, or would the struggle die with him? How would Latin America’s struggle for independence be altered without Sáenz’s contributions?
In today’s modern society, particularly in the Americas, a woman who drinks, smokes, swears, and lives a promiscuous lifestyle would not be given a second thought. However, I believe it is women like Sáenz who not only changed the course of independence for a nation but also paved the way for independence for women. Women like Sáenz are heroes in their own right, women who have championed what is right and fair for all people. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich said it best, “Well-behaved women seldom make history” and I believe Sáenz is proof of that.
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