María de los Remedios de Escalada
Encyclopedia
María de los Remedios de Escalada (November 20, 1797 — August 3, 1823) was the wife of the leader of the Argentine War of Independence
, General José de San Martín
.
in 1797 to Tomasa de la Quintana y Aoiz and Antonio José de Escalada, members of the local gentry
. The Escaladas were prominent in local commerce, and became supporters of the May Revolution
of 1810, hosting numerous clandestine meetings before and after the events that led to the dissolution of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
(a part of the Spanish Empire
).
During this interim, she met José de San Martín
, one of several generals from the Peninsular War
who had recently moved to Buenos Aires. Most historians consider that they developed a love at first sight
; however, the aristocratic stature of the Escalada, the social customs of the time and San Martín's own political agenda would suggest instead that it could be an arranged marriage
between San Martín and the Escalada. With this marriage, the Escalada arranged ties with a general of a promising career, and San Martín could leave the social isolation of his recent move, getting ties with the aristocracy of the city. Even so, San Martin had conflicts with his political family, by rejecting their aristocratic ways. A dinner with Bernardino Rivadavia
ended in an incident between them.
They married on September 12, 1812, in a private ceremony at the Buenos Aires cathedral. María was aged 14 at that time, while San Martín declared being 31 years old, thus, born in 1781. However, those years are inconsistent with other ages declared by San Martín in his life, in his year of birth controversy, and it is likely that he declared being younger than he was, to reduce the age disparity
between them.
San Martín's responsibilities at the helm of his recently formed Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers kept them separated in the ensuing months, however, and they would not be reunited until after San Martín's August 10, 1814, appointment as Governor of Mendoza Province
.
Mrs. San Martín collaborated in her husband's subsequent efforts to organize and fund the Army of the Andes
, and on October 10, 1815, she presented the military leader with a collection of jewelry donated by Mendoza's high society (as well as her own) as a result of her efforts. She and a number of friends also designed the military unit's banner, after San Martín commented on his lack of one during a Christmas 1816 dinner. She gave birth to the couple's only child, Mercedes Tomasa San Martín y Escalada (1816 — 1875), on August 16 of that year.
San Martín's departure towards Chile
as leader of the historic Crossing of the Andes
in January 1817 again led to a prolonged separation from his wife. This burden was compounded by her developing tuberculosis
in early 1819, and on March 24, her worsening state compelled her to return to Buenos Aires, where she expected to die. The commander of the Army of the North
, General Manuel Belgrano
, had General José María Paz
escort her party for the 600 mile (970 km) journey, for the sake of protection against highwaymen and other perils.
Following his tenure from 1821 to 1822 as Head of State of the Protectorate of Peru, General San Martín returned to Mendoza and, in January 1823, planned to journey to Buenos Aires, where his wife lay bedridden. Misgivings in Buenos Aires towards the Liberator remained, however, from his 1820 refusal to intervene militarily on behalf of the besieged Directorate
prior to their downfall. Receiving San Martín's petition for safe conduct in his journey to visit his dying wife, Minister of Government Bernardino Rivadavia
refused. Undaunted, San Martín left for Buenos Aires, although upon his arrival, was informed that his wife had recently died; she was 25.
María Remedios de Escalada was buried at the La Recoleta Cemetery
, and San Martín departed for Le Havre
, France
, the following February; he died in exile in 1850.
Argentine War of Independence
The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...
, General José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
.
Life and times
She was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in 1797 to Tomasa de la Quintana y Aoiz and Antonio José de Escalada, members of the local gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
. The Escaladas were prominent in local commerce, and became supporters of the May Revolution
May Revolution
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
of 1810, hosting numerous clandestine meetings before and after the events that led to the dissolution of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
(a part of the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
).
During this interim, she met José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
, one of several generals from the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
who had recently moved to Buenos Aires. Most historians consider that they developed a love at first sight
Love at first sight
Love at first sight is a common trope in Western literature, in which a person, character, or speaker feels romantic attraction for a stranger on the first sight of them...
; however, the aristocratic stature of the Escalada, the social customs of the time and San Martín's own political agenda would suggest instead that it could be an arranged marriage
Arranged marriage
An arranged marriage is a practice in which someone other than the couple getting married makes the selection of the persons to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Such marriages had deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world...
between San Martín and the Escalada. With this marriage, the Escalada arranged ties with a general of a promising career, and San Martín could leave the social isolation of his recent move, getting ties with the aristocracy of the city. Even so, San Martin had conflicts with his political family, by rejecting their aristocratic ways. A dinner with Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino de la Trinidad Gónzalez Rivadavia y Rivadavia was the first president of Argentina, from February 8, 1826 to July 7, 1827 . He was a politician of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, Argentina today...
ended in an incident between them.
They married on September 12, 1812, in a private ceremony at the Buenos Aires cathedral. María was aged 14 at that time, while San Martín declared being 31 years old, thus, born in 1781. However, those years are inconsistent with other ages declared by San Martín in his life, in his year of birth controversy, and it is likely that he declared being younger than he was, to reduce the age disparity
Age disparity in sexual relationships
Age disparity in sexual relationships refers to sexual relations between people with a significant difference in age. Whether these relationships are accepted and the question of what counts as a significant difference in age has varied over time; and varies over cultures, different legal systems,...
between them.
San Martín's responsibilities at the helm of his recently formed Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers kept them separated in the ensuing months, however, and they would not be reunited until after San Martín's August 10, 1814, appointment as Governor of Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
.
Mrs. San Martín collaborated in her husband's subsequent efforts to organize and fund the Army of the Andes
Army of the Andes
The Army of the Andes was a military force created by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata and mustered by general José de San Martín in his campaign to free Chile from the Spanish Empire...
, and on October 10, 1815, she presented the military leader with a collection of jewelry donated by Mendoza's high society (as well as her own) as a result of her efforts. She and a number of friends also designed the military unit's banner, after San Martín commented on his lack of one during a Christmas 1816 dinner. She gave birth to the couple's only child, Mercedes Tomasa San Martín y Escalada (1816 — 1875), on August 16 of that year.
San Martín's departure towards Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
as leader of the historic Crossing of the Andes
Crossing of the Andes
The Crossing of the Andes was one of the most important feats in the Argentine and Chilean wars of independence, in which a combined army of Argentine soldiers and Chilean exiles invaded Chile leading to Chile's liberation from Spanish rule...
in January 1817 again led to a prolonged separation from his wife. This burden was compounded by her developing tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in early 1819, and on March 24, her worsening state compelled her to return to Buenos Aires, where she expected to die. The commander of the Army of the North
Army of the North
The Army of the North , contemporaneously called Army of Peru, was one of the armies deployed by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata in the Spanish American wars of independence. Its objective was freeing the Argentine Northwest and the Upper Peru from the royalist troops of the Spanish...
, General Manuel Belgrano
Manuel Belgrano
Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano , usually referred to as Manuel Belgrano, was an Argentine economist, lawyer, politician, and military leader. He took part in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the Flag of Argentina...
, had General José María Paz
José María Paz
Brigadier General José María Paz y Haedo was an Argentine military figure, notable in the Argentine War of Independence and the Argentine Civil War.-Childhood:...
escort her party for the 600 mile (970 km) journey, for the sake of protection against highwaymen and other perils.
Following his tenure from 1821 to 1822 as Head of State of the Protectorate of Peru, General San Martín returned to Mendoza and, in January 1823, planned to journey to Buenos Aires, where his wife lay bedridden. Misgivings in Buenos Aires towards the Liberator remained, however, from his 1820 refusal to intervene militarily on behalf of the besieged Directorate
Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
The Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata , was a title given to the executive officers of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, according to the form of government established in 1814 by the Asamblea del Año XIII...
prior to their downfall. Receiving San Martín's petition for safe conduct in his journey to visit his dying wife, Minister of Government Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino de la Trinidad Gónzalez Rivadavia y Rivadavia was the first president of Argentina, from February 8, 1826 to July 7, 1827 . He was a politician of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, Argentina today...
refused. Undaunted, San Martín left for Buenos Aires, although upon his arrival, was informed that his wife had recently died; she was 25.
María Remedios de Escalada was buried at the La Recoleta Cemetery
La Recoleta Cemetery
La Recoleta Cemetery is a famous cemetery located in the exclusive Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It contains the graves of notable people, including Eva Perón, Raúl Alfonsín, and several presidents of Argentina.- History :...
, and San Martín departed for Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the following February; he died in exile in 1850.