María Pita
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María Mayor Fernández de Cámara y Pita (Sigrás, 1565 – 1643), known as María Pita, was a heroine in the defense of La Coruña in 1589 against the English Armada.
On the 4 May 1589, English forces breached the wall around the old city, directed by an officer, who, with a flag of the defenders in hand, sought to climb the highest part of the wall. María Pita killed this officer, and soon reappeared at the highest part of the wall, banner in hand, shouting:
| “ | Whoever has honour, follow me! | ” |
The battle swung in favour of the Spanish defenders and the English soon retreated to their ships.
María Pita, a Galician Spaniard was married four times and had two children. Her heroic deeds were honoured and rewarded by Philip II of Spain, who granted her the pension of a military officer following the death of her fourth husband and the right to engage in the mule trade with Portugal.
