In the Plaza of Santo Domingo in Mexico City, the statue of a seated woman surveys her surroundings with serenity and dignity. In one hand she holds the scrolled document of Independence. Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez born in the state of Morelos, is known as "La Corregidora", the woman who sent the message of the discovery of the plot to free Mexico from the Spanish domination.
Her husband Miguel Dominguez, was Corregidor... or mayor of Queretaro, hence she was known as the Corregidora, wife of the mayor. In 1810, a small group of patriots, calling themselves a "Literary Club"met at he Dominguez home. Secretly they plotted the overthrow of the Spanish oppressor and gain the freedom of Mexico. An army was to have been raised, important towns seized, the Spanish were to be expelled and their property taken. Father Miguel Hidalgo was designated leader of the rebellion. Important partisans were Ignacio Allende, a cavalry officer in the Queen's Regiment, Juan Aldama, a royal army officer, a priest Jose Maria Sanchez, and prominent lawyers were among the group. The revolt was planned to coincide with a large regional fair in December, 1810.
News of the plot reached the ears of royal officers, and upon investigation, one of the conspirators, Emerito Gonzalez, was apprehended on September 13. A cache of arms and documents incriminating all of the conspirators was found. Dominguez and his wife, Josefa, were restrained in house arrest; however Josefa managed to get a message of warning to the other partisans in San Miguel, ten miles away. In late afternoon, Aldama set out on horseback for the town of Dolores to warn Father Hidalgo.
Allende, Aldama and Hidalgo decided that the only hope was to launch the revolution immediately. Time was of the essence. Father Hidalgo rang the church bells early in the morning of the 16th of September, summoning his congregation telling them the time had come to revolt. The exact words of the padre were not recorded, but from this date forward, every year at 11.00 PM on September 15th, the "Grito de Dolores" is proclaimed in every town, village and city in Mexico.
Josefa, was incarcerated. Without her brave action, the history of independent Mexico would have been different. Knowing her reputation as a courageous activist, Viceroy Ruiz Apodaca took the precaution of having Josefa interned in the convent of Santa Teresa outside of Mexico City. Later she was sent to a more secure place in the center of town... Santa Catalina de Sena.
In 1923, she was liberated and honored by her country. She refused all recompense for her contribution to the cause of independence. She devoted her remaining years to stimulation of liberal movements.
She died in 1829 and was buried in the convent of Santa Catalina. In calmer times, her body was exhumed and with great respect taken to Queretaro where she was declared a meritorious heroine of the State. In 1945, Mexico paid its greatest respect to her memory in coining five centavo coins bearing her portrait.
