María Ignacia Rodríguez de Velasco y Osorio Barba
María Ignacia Javiera Rafaela Agustina Feliciana Rodríguez de Velasco y Osorio Barba Jimenez Bello De Pereyra Hernandez de Cordoba Salas Solano Garfias, known as la Güera Rodríguez (The Fair Rodríguez) (1778 in Mexico City – 1851 in Mexico City) was a Criolla figure in the society of Mexico City, and a proponent of Mexican independence from Spain.
Through the intercession of Viceroy Juan Vicente de Güemes, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo, she married José Jerónimo López de Peralta de Villar Villamil in September 1794. Eleven years later he died.
She was a proponent of independence, and for this reason was summoned before the tribunal of the Inquisition. After her hearing, Viceroy Francisco Javier de Lizana y Beaumont exiled her to Querétaro for a short time.
She was a good friend of Agustín de Iturbide, future emperor of Mexico, and an admirer of the German naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt. The image of the Virgin on the right of the main altar of the church of La Profesa sculpted by the famous artist Manuel Tolsá is said to be her likeness.
She contracted a second marriage with Mariano de Briones, and a third one with Manual Elizalde. The last years of her life were dedicated to piety, in the Third Order of Franciscans. After her death, Elizalde became a priest.
Artemio del Valle Arizpe wrote a fictionalized biography of her life, La Güera Rodríguez (1949).
Fanny Cano appeared as La Güera Rodríguez in a 1978 Mexican movie of that title.
References
- "Rodríguez de Velasco y Osorio Barba, María Ignacia," Enciclopedia de México, v. 12. Mexico City, 1987.
- Romero de Terreros, Manuel, Bocetos de la vida social en Nueva España. 1944.
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