La monja alferez catalina de erauso biography

Basque nun and explorer, d.

Antonio de Erauso, born as Catalina de Erauso (in Spanish) (San Sebastián, Spain, or ^[1] — Cuetlaxtla near Orizaba, New Spain, ),^[2] also went by Alonso Díaz and some other masculine names, later taking on the name Antonio de Erauso which he went by for the remainder of his life.

He is also known in Spanish as La Monja Alférez (The Ensign Nun or The Nun Lieutenant). de Erauso was originally an unwilling nun, but escaped the convent and travelled around Spain and Spanish America, mostly under male identities, in the first half of the 17th century. Erauso's story has remained alive through historical studies, biographical stories, novels, movies and comics.^[3]

Early years

Erauso was born in the Basque town of San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain, in either (according to some sources including a supposed autobiography of )^[4][5] or February 10, (according to a baptismal ce