Valentina Ramírez Avitia

Valentina Ramírez Avitia (14 February 1893 – 4 April 1979) was a Mexican revolutionary and soldadera. She was known as "La Valentina" and "La leona de Norotal".[1] She fought against the Federales in the Mexican Revolution at a time when women were not allowed to join the army. Her parallels to the story of Hua Mulan lead to her modern nickname of "The Mexican Mulan" (Spanish: "La Mulán mexicana").[2]

Biography

Avitia was born in Norotol, Durango on 14 February 1893.[3] Inspired by her father who was killed early in the Mexican Revolution, she decided to enlist. Wearing her brothers clothes, hiding her hair, and assuming the name of Juan Ramírez, Avitia joined the Maderista Army under Francisco I. Madero in 1910.[2] She quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant after a victorious battle in Culiacán. However, after participating in the conflict for only five months and ten days, it was discovered that Avitia was a woman. On 22 June 1911 she was dismissed from the army.[4]

Upon her return home, Avitia was shunned by her family. She moved to Culiacán and lived there for over twenty years. In 1969, she was hit by a car in the city of Navolato. She was placed in a nursing home before she escaped. Crippled and without a wheelchair, she lived in a small scrap-metal hut and begged for food. On 4 April 1979, Avitia died of burn wounds received after a fire in her home.[4]

Legacy

The corrido "La Valentina" was composed as a tribute to Avitia.[1] The film La Valentina and the 1966 remake were later inspired by the corrido.[5]

Valentina brand hot sauce is named in her honor.[6]

See also

References
  1. Sirouyan, Cristian (2 April 2020). "La historia de Valentina Ramírez Avitia, la 'Mulán mexicana', heroína de la Revolución cuyo nombre dio origen a la famosa salsa". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. Fauzia, Miriam (17 September 2021). "Fact check: Yes, the popular hot sauce Salsa Valentina is named after Mexico's 'Mulan'". USA TODAY. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  3. Gonzales, Paloma (3 April 2020). "Valentina Ramírez Avitia: así fue la Mulan mexicana". GQ Mexico (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  4. Lujano, Benjamin Luna (11 June 2010). "Valentina Ramírez: "La Leona de Norotal"". Periódico Noroeste (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 August 2014.
  5. García Riera, Emilio (1997). Historia documental del cine mexicano. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México: Universidad de Guadalajara. ISBN 9688955418.
  6. Iseman, Courtney (10 August 2021). "The Untold Truth Of Valentina Hot Sauce". Mashed. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
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