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Maria Quiteria (1792—1853) was a Brazilian Lieutenant and national heroine. She served in the Brazilian War of Independence (1822—1823) dressed as a man. She was promoted to cadet and Lieutenant and decorated with the Imperial order. She has been called the "Brazilian Joan of Arc," and has become a kind of national legendary figure. Quiteria was the first woman to serve a military unit in Brazil.

Few confirmed details are known about the life of Maria Quiteria. She is briefly mentioned by English author Lady Maria Dundas Graham Callcot in her book Journal of a Voyage to Brazil: "Maria de Jesus is illiterate, but lively. She has clear intelligence and acute perception. I think that if they educated her, she would become a notable personality. One observes nothing masculine in her conduct, rather she is of gentle and friendly manners."

Personal Life

Maria Quiteria de Jesus was born on June 7, 1792, in Licurizeiro, in the parish of Sao Jose das Itaporocas (now located in Feira de Santana), Bahia. She was the eldest daughter of a farmer, Goncalo Alves de Almeida and his wife, Maria Quiteria de Jesus.

After her time serving in the war, Quiteria married Gabriel Pereira Brito (who was an old boyfriend of hers) and had one daughter with him, named Luisa. Little is known about their life together. A widowed Quiteria likely died around 1853 in relative poverty and obscurity, near Salvador. It was not until years later that her legacy was revived.

Legacy

After her death, Maria Quiteria was memorialized nationally in a variety of ways. In 1953, one hundred years after her death, a bronze medal was issued by the military bearing Maria Quiteria's likeness. It is called the "Medal of Maria Quiteria" and was issued to both civilians and military personnel for valuable contributions to military efforts. By presidential decree in 1996, Maria Quiteria was proclaimed Patron of the Corps of Support Staff Officers of the Brazilian Army.

The best known painting of Maria Quiteria is a work by Italian painter Domenico Failutti from 1920. She is depicted standing and wearing the uniform of a Brazilian lieutenant. The work can be found in the Museu Paulista at the University of Sao Paolo.