Beatriz de Palacios was a brave and versatile woman who participated in the conquest of New Spain together with her husband Pedro de Escobar (remember that in Spain since 1514 mixed marriages were legal, in the US they were not, until 1967).
She was mulatto, which earned her the nickname “La Parda”, and one of the first Afro-descendants to settle in the New World; she was one of the most notable female soldiers of Hernán Cortés.
He arrived in New Spain in 1520 with the Pánfilo de Narváez expedition and later joined the Cortés expedition. Beatriz was not limited to being a simple companion of her husband, but she demonstrated great courage and skill on the battlefield.
She was in charge of various tasks such as nurse, gunsmith, cook, horse girl and soldier. Armed with a sword and buckler, she fought on several occasions, especially during the Sad Night, when Hernán Cortés and his indigenous allies had to flee Tenochtitlan under attack by the Mexica. Beatriz helped repel enemies and protect the wounded.
Beatriz also participated in the siege of Tenochtitlan, along with other women such as María de Estrada, Beatriz Bermúdez de Velasco, Juana Martín and Isabel Rodríguez. These women earned the respect and admiration of their peers for their courage and resilience. Beatriz and Pedro survived the conquest and settled in Cuba in times of peace. Her story was picked up by various chroniclers such as Francisco Cervantes de Salazar and Juan de Torquemada, who praised her for her effort and her uniqueness.
Her life is an example of how women were also protagonists of history, even though they have often been forgotten.
Taken from the Facebook profile Stories and curiosities of the world
