She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Portuguese Brazil and died in Goa.
She joined the Portuguese navy dressed as a man under the name Balthazar do Conto Cardoso, sailed for Portugal, joined the army, and took part in battles in India.
When she arrived at Lisbon, she enlisted herself as a soldier, with the false name of Baltasar do Couto Cardoso.
She participated in the conquest of the fortress at Amona, Goa, against the Prabhu-Desais of Sanquelim, where she was promoted to captain and given charge of the fortress Madre de Deus 1703.
She revealed her sex voluntarily in 1714 because she wished to marry a man, Alfonso Arras Teixeira de Mello.