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Hildegart Rodríguez became a writer, lawyer, and activist while still a teenager, but her quest for independence ended in one of Spain’s most unsettling crimes.
In the early hours of June 9, 1933, a family crime gained enormous attention in Madrid and quickly caught international attention.
The young woman was already known for her intellectual production, political activism, and advocacy of progressive causes in 1930s Spain.
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Aurora did not attempt to flee or hide the murder. Shortly after, she sought out lawyer and friend José Botella Asensi to confess the crime.
Eugenics project began before Hildegart’s birth
Decades before the murder, Aurora developed a project based on the eugenics theories spread in the early 20th century.
The mother believed she could contribute to the improvement of humanity through the creation and rigorous education of an exceptional person.
The man chosen to father the child should, according to her criteria, be healthy, intelligent, and culturally educated.
Aurora moved to Madrid after becoming pregnant. During the pregnancy, she adopted methods she considered essential to realize her project.
The preference for a girl was also part of the plan. In Aurora’s view, an exceptional woman could lead great social transformations.
Hildegart Rodríguez was born on December 9, 1914.
Strict education turned the girl into a prodigy
Hildegart’s upbringing was intensely controlled from her earliest years.
Aurora supervised every stage of her daughter’s education and treated her as a creation made to fulfill a specific mission.
The intellectual results appeared quickly. Hildegart learned to read before the age of two and was writing by three.
The young woman also studied English, French, and German. Her routine, however, offered little room for play and common childhood experiences.
Hildegart completed advanced school stages at 13. At 14, she received special permission to enter law school.
Political Involvement Brought Hildegart to the Center of Public Life
Adolescence marked the beginning of intense political and intellectual participation.
Hildegart became a writer, speaker, and activist. In a few years, she published dozens of articles and 16 monographs.
Her work mainly addressed:
- Sex education;
- Birth control;
- Right to divorce;
- Sexual health;
- Women’s rights.
She graduated in Law with distinction at 17. Soon after, Hildegart began studies in Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.
Her fame, thus, surpassed academic circles. The teenager became one of the most well-known young intellectuals in Spain.
Maternal Control Limited the Young Woman’s Freedom
The freedom Hildegart publicly advocated did not fully exist at home.
Aurora accompanied her daughter to social events, academic commitments, and political meetings. The two also remained almost always together.
The desire to build an independent path increased over the years. The relationship between mother and daughter, consequently, began to deteriorate.
Desire for Independence Preceded the Crime
The exact reasons for the murder were never fully clarified.
Some hypotheses involve romantic relationships, invitations for international travel, political disagreements, and the desire for autonomy.
According to biographer Carmen Domingo, Aurora did not see Hildegart as an independent person, but as a creation destined to fulfill a certain purpose.
The young woman’s intention to choose her own path would have represented, therefore, the definitive break with the maternal project.
Trial Mobilized Spanish Society
Aurora’s trial became a national event.
The defense claimed that she suffered from severe mental disorders. The prosecution, on the other hand, stated that the defendant fully understood her actions.
The Spanish justice sentenced Aurora to more than 26 years in prison.
In 1935, Aurora was transferred to the psychiatric hospital of Ciempozuelos. She remained hospitalized there until her death in 1955.
The story of Aurora and Hildegart remains associated with debates on eugenics, obsession, psychological control, and female emancipation.
In your opinion, should Hildegart be remembered primarily for her intellectual production or as a symbol of a struggle for her own freedom?
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