Basque Nun Turned Top Gun

Ever heard of Catalina de Erauso?  Me either, she is on of the uppity women I've been reading about, and thus far, I think she's my favorite.  Catalina was active in the early 1600's, and very much a tomboy.  She was adventurous, and tough and at the time considered a cross-dresser.  How far she went isn't discussed, but I think pants was cross-dressing way back then, and to live the life she did, pants were pretty much a necessity.

Catalina was originally sent by her parents to be a nun, but this did not sit well with her.  She ran away in 1600 to obtain her goal: "to join the opposite sex." (pg 132)  In 1603-ish, Catalina shipped off to the new world and traveled across Panama, Peru and Chile.  She became a second lieutenant in the army and even attracted a few female admirers. 

In 1620 Catalina was in more trouble than normal, and went to a bishop for help.  She told him everything about her (apparently her sex was a secret), and despite the troubled life she led (she was more than a soldier, she gambled, brawled, killed 8 men; she was exciting), she was still a virgin, which in the church's eyes offset her sins.  The King of Spain awarded her a pension, and the pope, gave her the 'ok' to wear men's clothes.

Lastly, Catalina left behind an autobiography, which I think would be a fascinating read.