Manuela Rosas

She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the influential daughter of Juan Manuel de Rosas and Encarnación Ezcurra.

In a time of caudillos leading the region of Buenos Aires, Manuela grew up in household of ambition under her parents.

As Monteiro Lobato laments, “Manuelita’s home was a strange mixture of love without tenderness and of companionship without delicacy.” [1] In the chaos of having a caudillo father, Manuela thrived.

At a time when charisma and garnering support was crucial to becoming the leader, Juan Manuel de Rosas relied on his daughter as the link to the outside world.

When many suitors wanted her hand in marriage, Juan Manuel de Rosas thought it best for her to remain “La Niña” to all of Buenos Aires.

Despite this, when Juan Manuel de Rosas was in exile and he asked her not to keep contact, she remained loyal and kept correspondence.

Despite this, when Juan Manuel de Rosas was sent in exile die to the Battle of Caseros in which he loses, he asks her not to keep contact, she remained loyal and kept correspondence.

Her active political role starkly contrasts the expectations of postcolonial society in which women were limited to the domestic sphere.