María Ignacia Javiera Rafaela Agustina Feliciana Rodríguez de Velasco y Osorio Barba Jimenez Bello De Pereyra Hernandez de Cordoba Salas Solano Garfias, known as la Güera Rodríguez (The rubia Rodríguez) (1778 in Mexico City – 1851 in Mexico City) was a Criolla figure in the society of Mexico City, and a proponent of Mexican independence from Spain. Through the intercession of Viceroy Juan Vicente de Güemes, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo, she married José Jerónimo López de Peralta de Villar Villamil in September 1794. Eleven years later he died. She was a proponent of independence, and for this reason was summoned before the tribunal of the Inquisition. After her hearing, Viceroy Francisco Javier de Lizana y Beaumont exiled her to Querétaro for a short time. She was a good friend of Agustín de Iturbide, future emperor of Mexico, and an admirer of the German naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt. The image of the Virgin on the right of the main altar of the church of La Profesa sculpted by the famous artist Manuel Tolsá is said to be her likeness. She contracted a second marriage with Mariano de Briones, and a third one with Manual Elizalde. The last years of her life were dedicated to piety, in the Third Order of Franciscans. After her death, Elizalde became a priest. Artemio del Valle Arizpe wrote a fictionalized biography of her life, La Güera Rodríguez (1949). Fanny Cano appeared as La Güera Rodríguez in a 1978 Mexican movie of that title. Biography She was born in Mexico City on November 20, 1778 to Antonio Rodríguez de Velasco and María Ignacia Osorio Barba y Bello Pereyra. Her sister was María Josefa Rodríguez de Velasco. Through the arbitration by viceroy Juan Vicente de Güemes and the bishop, she married José Jerónimo López de Peralta de Villar Villamil in September 1794. Though the marriage was unhappy, this union bore the couple four children. María Ignacia became known in New Spanish society for her beauty and quick wit. Foreign travelers referred to her as, "a sort of western Madame de Stael". Guillermo Prieto, chronicler of the era, said of her, "The Güera was not only noticeable for her beauty, but also for her wit and her place in high society". Artemio de Valle Arizpe meanwhile praised, "the quality of lovers that she had". Some speculate that the image of Our Lady of Sorrows, situated at the