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Josepha Ortiz de Dominguez
Doña Josepha Ortiz de Dominguez (September 8, 1768 – March 2, 1829) was a conspirator and supporter of the Mexican War of Independence, who fought for independence against Spain, in the early 19th century. She is frequently referred to as "La Corregidora".
Early life
Ortiz de Dominguez was the daughter of Don Juan José Ortiz; a captain of "Los Morados" regiment, andDoña Manuela Girón in Valladolid (present-day Morelia). Her father was killed in a battle early in her infancy and her mother died soon after. Maria Sotero Ortiz, Josepha’s sister, took care of her upbringing and managed to secure a place for her in the prestigious College de las Vizcaínas in 1789. She married Miguel Dominguez, a frequent visitor to the college, in 1791.
In 1802, Miguel Dominguez wasappointed by the Viceroy of New Spain to the office of "Corregidor" (a magistrate) in the city of Querétaro. During that period, Ortiz de Dominguez took care of household chores and the education of their 14 children.
Ortiz de Dominguez developed an early sympathy for the Amerindian, mestizo and the creole community who were oppressed by the Spanish colonial government.
Amerindian people wereoppressed; mestizos and creoles were often seen as second-class citizens and were relegated to secondary roles in the administration of the colony. This obviously created discontent among many creoles who soon started to organize secret and discussed. Ortiz de Dominguezherself attended some of the early meetings and eventually convinced her husband to organize a number of political meetings in their house. The meetings, attended by educated figures including Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Ignacio Allende, quickly turned to revolutionary issues.
War of Independence
The overthrow of King Ferdinand VII of Spain as a result of the Peninsular War in Spain suddenlyincreased the prospect of independence for the Spanish colonies in the Americas. The meetings in Ortiz de Dominguez’s house became the official location of the revolutionary conspiracy and much of the insurgent planning was carried out there, including gathering weapons and supplies and storing them in various houses. The beginning of the revolution was planned for December 8, 1810. However, onSeptember 13, the conspirators

were betrayed by a supporter, who informed the Spanish colonial authorities about rebel activities in Querétaro. Unaware of his wife's allegiance, Miguel Domínguez was asked to conduct a house search in the town in order to apprehend the rebel leaders. He imprisoned Ortiz de Domínguez in her room to prevent her from exchanging information with her fellow conspirators.
Therebels had a large following, and Ortiz de Dominguez eventually managed to get a warning out through the town mayor, Don Ignacio Pérez. The news allowed the leaders of the conspiracy to abandon the town and prompted Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla to declare war against the Spanish colonial authorities, in which he made a speech to his followers known as Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores"), in theearly morning of September 16, an event that signaled the start of the Mexican War of Independence.
Eventually, the role of Ortiz de Dominguez and her husband played in the conspiracy was uncovered. They were imprisoned separately. She was sent to the monastery of Santa Clara, in Querétaro, and then to Mexico City to stand trial. Despite her husband's efforts as her lawyer, she was found guilty andplaced in seclusion in the
monastery of Santa Teresa. Due to her rebellious character, she was soon transferred to the convent of Santa Catalina de Sena. Ortiz de Dominguez was released in 1817, under an oath that she would refrain from supporting the rebellion.
Post-Independence
After the war of independence in 1822, Mexican Emperor Austin de Iturbide, offered Ortiz de Dominguez the role of...