THE STORY

“If I loved independence, it was because I considered it just and necessary.”

the story
LEONA VICARIO was one of the most important figures in Mexico’s War of Independence—a patriot, journalist, and one of the first women recognized as a heroine of the nation.

She chose purpose over comfort. In a world that told women to stay silent, she used her voice, her intellect, and her fortune to support the fighting, speaking her truth with fearless clarity.

When the independence movement began in 1810, Leona Vicario secretly joined the insurgent cause. She was part of Los Guadalupes, a secret network in Mexico City that gathered intelligence, raised funds, and smuggled supplies to the rebels fighting the Spanish crown. Using her wealth, she financed weapons and materials for the insurgents and passed along critical information.
She was arrested in 1813 but refused to betray her fellow insurgents despite pressure from colonial authorities.

After Mexico’s independence, Leona Vicario wrote essays and letters defending her role—and that of other women—in public life. She pushed back against critics who tried to portray her as merely a passive or emotional participant.

In 1842, Leona Vicario was officially declared Benemérita y Dulcísima Madre de la Patria. "Mother of the Homeland" Today, her remains rest at the Angel of Independence in Mexico City, among the heroes of the nation she helped shape.

HER STORY IS NOT JUST ABOUT REBELLION

—it’s about ownership of one’s voice, choices, and destiny. This is the spirit that drives everything we create and support.