María Pita

María Mayor Fernández de Cámara y Pita (1565–1643), known as María Pita, was a heroine in the defense of Coruña, northern Spain, against the English Armada attack, an English attack upon the Spanish mainland in 1589.[1] She was born in Sigrás.

María Pita
Monument to María Pita, A Coruña
Born
María Mayor Fernández de Cámara y Pita

1565
Sigrás
Died1643 (aged 77–78)
NationalitySpanish
Known forHeroine in the defense of Coruña, northern Spain

Defense of Coruña

On the 4th of May 1589, English forces, already in control of the lower city, breached the defenses of the old city. María Pita was assisting her husband, an army captain manning the defenses, when he was killed by a crossbow bolt that struck him in the head. An English soldier with a banner, who was making his way to the highest part of the wall, was killed by Pita. She appeared on the heights of the wall herself, shouting: Quen teña honra, que me siga ("Whoever has honour, follow me!") whereupon the English incursion was driven back by the defenders. The English later abandoned the siege and withdrew to their ships. Other women also participated directly in the defense of Coruña; a surviving record tells of one Inés de Ben receiving treatment for two shots received in the siege. Pita's heroic deeds were honoured and rewarded by Philip II, who granted her the pension of a military officer, which she received following the death of her husband who was killed during the battle.[2]

María Pita was married four times and had four children.

Attributed battle cry: "Those with honor, follow me!" Galician: "Quen teña honra, que me siga"

Other

Her city honors her with a 3,30 meter tall statue (more than 9 meters including pedestal).

Spanish ships
  • The ship María Pita of the Balmis Expedition was named after her in 1803.[3]
  • In August 2008, SASEMAR (Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima, Spanish acronym for Sea Rescue and Safety Society) baptized the BS-14 Rescue Ship as María Pita.[4]

See also

References
  1. House-Museum of María Pita (Spanish)
  2. Archivo General de Simancas. Memorial de 1596.no just no... Cámara de Castilla, atado 772.
  3. "La Corbeta María Pita (Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  4. BS María Pita (Spanish) Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
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