Wonder Woman of the Week: Micaela Bastidas

This week's Wonder Woman is a often overlooked major historical figure in the history of Latin America. This revolutionary stood proud as one of the early figures in the events that led to the collapse of the Spanish Empire and the independence of several nations in Central and South America- especially in what would become modern-day Peru. Micaela Bastidas grew up with a single mother and an unidentified father (though rumors spoke of him being either a priest or of African descent) in colonial Peru. Tensions were high during Bastidas' childhood in 18th Century Peru as rebellions often rose across the waning Spanish Empire (think Mar of Zorro).

Micaela Bastidas married at only fifteen years-old to José Gabriel Condorcanqui- a rising figure in rising animosity against Spanish rule in colonial Peru and a descendent of the long dethroned Inca monarchy. As a merchant, Condorcanqui and his wife were able to establish an underground network of communicating across the former Inca highways to revolutionaries across the colony and launched a revolution to try and dislodge Spanish rule. The indigenous revolt failed though, and both Bastidas and her husband fell into the hands of Spanish authorities. At thirty-six years-old, Bastidas died painfully at the hands of Spanish executioners (think Peruvian Braveheart) along with her son and husband. Bastida's death however caused greater tension in Peru and helped sow the seeds of revolution in the country.