author
Catalina de Erauso
d. 1630
A runaway novice who reinvented themself in the Spanish Empire, this legendary figure left behind one of the most unusual life stories of the 17th century. Soldier, traveler, and memoirist, Catalina de Erauso became famous for a life that still sparks debate and fascination.
1 Audiobook
La Nonne Alferez
by Catalina de Erauso
About the author
Born in San Sebastián in the Basque Country, Catalina de Erauso is generally dated to about 1585 or 1592. After time in a convent as a child, Erauso escaped as a teenager and went on to live for years under masculine identities, traveling through Spain and then to Spanish South America.
Erauso became known through a dramatic life story involving military service, duels, arrests, long journeys, and repeated reinvention. The autobiographical narrative traditionally linked to Erauso helped turn that life into legend, and later readers remembered the figure as La Monja Alférez—the "Lieutenant Nun."
Modern writers and historians continue to discuss Erauso in different ways: as a Spanish soldier and adventurer, as a memoirist, and as a figure important to conversations about gender and identity. Sources differ on some basic details, including the exact birth year and even the year of death, so it is best to treat parts of the story with caution while recognizing the lasting cultural impact.