As the mother of the Dominican Republic’s first lady, Francisca Vergara was known to be among one of the most formidable women of the Spanish rule in the Caribbean. Born in Spain, Vergara had two titles during her lifetime: First Lady of the Court and President of the Republic. It was rumored that she also fathered a child with King Felipe, but this remains unconfirmed. Regardless of what family rumors may have been true, Vergara lived her life as an accomplished and popular lawyer and writer, who experienced everything from humble beginnings to rags to riches.
Height has always been a subject of speculation in the Dominican Republic, where “being a little short” or “being of short height” has often been used as a reason for not serving in the Dominican Republic’s national assemblies or in local courts. On the contrary, Vergara’s stature was all the greater for it did not come against any physical handicap or shortness. In fact, she is known to be one of the tallest women in the world, and many records still stand today to prove just that. Vergara was able to maintain both her physique and her height, an achievement that few can match.
Her life was a colourful one, and the end of it marked the end of an age in the Dominican Republic. Following her marriage to Alejandra Molina, she travelled to New Orleans, taking with her some children and the entire belongings she had accumulated over her lifetime. For some time she returned to the Caribbean, where she established a home for a very large group of followers, and established a political party, the ARanquia movement, whose aim was to create a republic based on religion and ethnicity. Finally, after her death, she became the first female Dominican Republic President.