Josefa Ortiz Téllez Girón's role in Mexican Independence

Josefa Ortiz Téllez Girón, known as the Corregidora de Querétaro, played a decisive role in the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. When Spanish authorities discovered the planned rebellion, Ortiz managed to warn key leaders, including Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende, despite being confined to a room by her husband, Miguel Domínguez.

She successfully communicated the warning to Ignacio Pérez, the warden of the Querétaro prison, which allowed the independence leaders to advance their plans. This alert led to the insurrection on September 16, 1810, marking the start of the prolonged struggle to separate Mexico from Spanish colonial rule. Beyond her political role, Ortiz was known for supporting poor families, orphans, and widows, and defending indigenous populations against social inequalities.