The Life of / La vida de La Pola

Born January 26, 1795, Policarpa Salavarritea, also known as La Pola, was Colombia’s greatest revolutionary in disguise. La Pola, a seamstress, became a spy for the revolutionary forces of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, now Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, during the Spanish Reconquista. While altering and mending clothing for the Spanish Royal Family, she overheard conversations and collected critical intelligence on their whereabouts, later sharing that information with patriots and spies. To this day, La Pola is considered an honorable heroine of the independence of Colombia!