vulturehooligan:Agustina de Aragón (1786 - 1857)Spanish heroine who defended Spain during the Penins
vulturehooligan:Agustina de Aragón (1786 - 1857)Spanish heroine who defended Spain during the Peninsular War. Mostly known for her bravery during the Siege of Zaragoza.“On June 15, 1808, the French army stormed the Portillo, an ancient gateway into the city defended by a hodgepodge battery of old cannons and a heavily outnumbered volunteer unit. Agustina, arriving on the ramparts with a basket of apples to feed the gunners, watched the nearby defenders fall to French bayonets. The Spanish troops broke ranks, having suffered heavy casualties, and abandoned their posts. With the French troops a few yards away, Agustina herself ran forward, loaded a cannon, and lit the fuse, shredding a wave of attackers at point blank range.The sight of a lone woman bravely manning the cannons inspired the fleeing Spanish troops and other volunteers to return and assist her. After a bloody struggle, the French gave up the assault on Zaragoza.”After Zaragoza was captured, Agustina was imprisioned and saw her firstborn child die at the hands of the French. She escaped and became a leader in the guerrilla. Agustina began to fight for the allied forces as Wellington’s only female officer and ultimately rose to the rank of Captain. -- source link