Catalina Jiménez: Slavery and Female Resilience in 17th-Century Teror
The history of Teror is deeply intertwined with the legacy of slavery, a system that shaped the lives of countless women like Catalina Jiménez. Her story, preserved in historical records, offers a window into the suffering and resilience of enslaved women in the Canary Islands during the 17th century[1].
Slavery in Teror
From the late 15th to the early 19th century, Teror had a significant enslaved population, mostly brought by force from Africa. Female slaves faced particularly harsh conditions, not only working in fields and homes but also being subjected to sexual abuse by their owners and neighbors. Shockingly, 60% of children born to enslaved women in Teror had “unknown” fathers, a stark indicator of the widespread exploitation they endured[1].
The Life of Catalina Jiménez
Catalina Jiménez, likely born in Las Palmas between 1673 and 1678, was a “mulatto” slave, the daughter of a white man and a black woman. Initially owned by powerful families, she was sold in 1696 to Martín Padilla de Figueredo, the chief sacristan of Teror’s parish church. That same year, she gave birth to her first child, Pedro, followed by Magdalena and Josefa. Tragically, only Josefa survived infancy, and the identity of their father remains unknown, though evidence suggests it was Padilla himself[1].
The relationship between Catalina and her owner was public knowledge, leading Bishop Bernardo de Vicuña in 1697 to order her expulsion from Padilla’s home under threat of excommunication and a fine. The order was ignored, and Catalina remained under Padilla’s control until her death in 1703 at the age of 30. She was buried in Teror’s parish church, a common practice at the time, but one that did little to erase the suffering she endured[1].
Legacy and Reflection
Catalina Jiménez’s story is just one among many silenced voices of enslaved women in the Canary Islands. Her life invites us to reflect on resilience in the face of adversity and the importance of recovering the memory of those who, from the shadows, contributed to Teror’s history. Remembering Catalina is an act of justice and recognition for all women who, like her, fought to survive in a hostile and unequal world.