Introduction
Colonial Spanish America was a civilization with a complex and malleable social structure shaped by various factors, including race, wealth, honor, and gender. These elements had a role in the formation of this society as they contributed, in some way, to its development. Despite the restrictions the state and the church imposed on social activity, there was always an opportunity for departure and different ways of life. This was the case even though restraints were placed on social behavior.
Conversely, this divergence might come with a certain amount of risk. Restall and Lane (2018) explain several case studies of individuals who defied the norms of their society and achieved varying levels of success as a direct result of their decisions. Catalina de Erauso represents an example of this individual. She was able to circumvent societal and gender norms and receive a royal commendation due to her exceptional circumstances as a member of the Spanish military, her capacity to present as male, and her participation in the conquest of the New World. However, it is improbable that women from diverse racial or social backgrounds would have experienced comparable outcomes.
How Catalina de Eraso Avoided Punishment and Obtained Royal Reward
In the year 1592, Catalina de Erauso made her debut in the world in the Basque region of Spain. She was christened Catalina de Salazar y de la Cueva during her baptism. Her parents gave her this name, but she eventually changed it to Catalina de Erauso.
Catalina de Erauso had a formal education that equipped her for a life as a nun during her formative years. She spent her time in the convent acquiring the craft of reading and writing as well as being prepared for a life of piety. When she was 15 years old, she ran away from home and used the name Francisco de Loyola when she vanished from her family’s home. At this age, she rebelled against her hermit life and enlisted in the Spanish army under the guise of a man.
Through this trick, she was given access to opportunities that she would not have had if she had been recognized as a woman. During that time, she traveled to a variety of locations all over the world by participating in several military operations in the New World. She engaged in various activities, such as the conquests of Chile and Peru, and greatly aided the Spanish’s success, as well as vices like gambling and murder. She eventually returned to Spain, where she revealed her true identity to the king upon her arrival.
Social Elements That Made Catalina De Erauso Get Her Successful Outcome
The key to Catalina’s social advancement and subsequent rewards came from her enlistment in the Spanish military. The military was one of the few institutions in Spanish America during the colonial era that promoted vertical social mobility. The possibility for soldiers to advance to higher positions increased their wealth and status.
The Viceroy of Peru permitted Catalina to participate in business ventures in the New World due to her military success, which led to her promotion to the rank of captain. This is in line with Restall and Lane’s (2018) argument that this outcome can be connected to a combination of circumstances in which she was able to dodge punishment and was later recognized by the royal family as a result of the activities she took.
The New World’s conquest and Catalina’s contributions to it were crucial to her success. The Spanish kings saw the conquest as a herculean effort that gave the entire nation honor and distinction. Titles, properties, and other rewards were regularly given to participants in the conquest to show thanks for their achievements. As a heroic figure rather than a transgressor, Catalina was praised for her role in conquering the New World and her refusal to comply with social conventions, solidifying her place in historical literature. She had been hiding her true identity for a long time, and the Spanish king pardoned her and bestowed a royal honor upon her.
In addition to being a woman, Catalina de Erauso’s family history was another feature that worked in her favor. She came from a Basque family, which, at the time, was considered part of Spain’s aristocratic elite. Because of the high esteem in which this social rank was regarded, she was treated in a manner distinct from those who hailed from social classes below hers.
Catalina de Erauso was able to leverage the one-of-a-kind talents she possessed, which resulted in increased levels of success for her. It was common knowledge that she was brave and daring, which was evidenced by the fact that she could go to a variety of destinations all over the world and participate in activities often reserved for men. She was willing to disclose her true identity to the king, even though doing so may have resulted in her being imprisoned or possibly put to death. This level of bravery and daring was also proven by the fact that she was willing to do so, even though doing so could have resulted in her being executed. Her audacity and bravery won the king’s admiration, ultimately leading to her being forgiven for her transgressions and rewarded for her efforts.
Whether Other Women from Different Racial And Social Origins Have The Same Fate
It is unlikely that a woman from a lower socioeconomic level would have been granted the same leniency or honored with a royal pardon in the same manner as the accused individual. Catalina’s gender and the socioeconomic origin of her family worked in her favor, one of the many factors that contributed to her overall success. In comparison, some of the factors that worked in her favor can be attributed to Catalina’s traits, such as her bold and daring nature; other circumstances played in her turn.
In addition, some cultural ideas regarding women would have played a role in determining the event’s outcome. It was widely frowned upon for women to engage in risky behaviors such as gambling or murder. It was expected of them that they would adhere to certain societal norms, such as embroidery, tribal responses to Spanish colonization, and household activities. If women from lower social groups were found to have deviated from these norms and been discovered doing so, they would have been subjected to harsher sanctions for their actions.
Conclusion
Catalina de Erauso avoided punishment and reached a good outcome due to a combination of factors, including her attributes, her gender, and her socioeconomic origin. She was also able to do this because she could achieve her goals. In conclusion, it is unmistakable that the presence of all of these conditions made it feasible for this to take place.
On the other hand, it is implausible that other women of a different race or social background would have achieved the same result. This is because of the high level of social and racial inequality. Different cultures have different perspectives on women, and women from lower social classes would have been exposed to stricter punishments in the past. Consequently, it is improbable that any other woman would have achieved the same result.
Bibliography
de Erauso, Catalina. “Lieutenant Nun: Memoir of a Basque Transvestite in the New World, ed. and trans. Michele Stepto and Gabriel Stepto.” (1996): 33-34.
Restall, Matthew, and Kris Lane. 2018. Latin America in colonial times. Cambridge University Press.