Born to Simón Arnao and María Pita circa 1556-1565, she dedicated her early life to working her own business in Peixería da Coruña.[2]
Defense of Coruñaedit
On 4 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. After her husband fell mortally wounded, Pita, full of rage, snatched the spear carrying the banner from an English captain and killed him with it.[3] The man was allegedly the brother of Admiral Francis Drake.[citation needed]. This demoralized the English troops, composed of 12.000 men, who began to retreat, but . María Pita then appeared on the heights of the wall herself, shouting in Galician: 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.[4]
Personal lifeedit
María Pita was married four times and had four children. Her first husband was Xoán de Rois, a butcher. They were married from 1581 until his death in 1585. Her second marriage was to Gregorio de Rocamonde, also a butcher, who was killed during the Siege of Coruña in 1589. Her third husband was an Andalusian shipmaster named Sancho de Arratia. They were married from 1590 to 1592. Her fourth and final husband was Gil Bermúdez de Figueroa, a squire of the royal court, who died in 1613. Her four children were María Alonso de Rois, Francisca de Arratia, Juan Bermúdez de Figueroa and Francisco Bermúdez de Figueroa.
Otheredit
Her city honors her with a 3.30 meter tall statue (more than 9 meters including pedestal).
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.[6]
maría, pita, maría, mayor, fernández, cámara, pita, 1565, february, 1643, known, heroine, defense, coruña, galicia, northern, spain, against, english, armada, attack, english, attack, upon, spanish, mainland, 1589, born, sigrás, village, cambre, monument, coru. Maria Mayor Fernandez de Camara y Pita 1565 21 February 1643 known as Maria Pita was a heroine in the defense of A Coruna Galicia northern Spain against the English Armada attack an English attack upon the Spanish mainland in 1589 1 She was born in Sigras a village in Cambre Maria PitaMonument to Maria Pita A CorunaBornMaria Mayor Fernandez de Camara y Pita1565Santiago de Sigras CambreDied21 February 1643 1643 02 21 aged 77 78 NationalitySpanishKnown forHeroine in the defense of Coruna GaliciaMaria Pita charging the English by Arturo Fernandez Cersa Contents 1 Early life 2 Defense of Coruna 3 Personal life 4 Other 5 Spanish ships 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editBorn to Simon Arnao and Maria Pita circa 1556 1565 she dedicated her early life to working her own business in Peixeria da Coruna 2 Defense of Coruna editOn 4 May 1589 English forces already in control of the lower city breached the defenses of the old city Maria Pita was assisting her husband an army captain manning the defenses After her husband fell mortally wounded Pita full of rage snatched the spear carrying the banner from an English captain and killed him with it 3 The man was allegedly the brother of Admiral Francis Drake citation needed This demoralized the English troops composed of 12 000 men who began to retreat but Maria Pita then appeared on the heights of the wall herself shouting in Galician Quen tena 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 Coruna a surviving record tells of one Ines 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 4 Personal life editMaria Pita was married four times and had four children Her first husband was Xoan de Rois a butcher They were married from 1581 until his death in 1585 Her second marriage was to Gregorio de Rocamonde also a butcher who was killed during the Siege of Coruna in 1589 Her third husband was an Andalusian shipmaster named Sancho de Arratia They were married from 1590 to 1592 Her fourth and final husband was Gil Bermudez de Figueroa a squire of the royal court who died in 1613 Her four children were Maria Alonso de Rois Francisca de Arratia Juan Bermudez de Figueroa and Francisco Bermudez de Figueroa Other editHer city honors her with a 3 30 meter tall statue more than 9 meters including pedestal Spanish ships editThe ship Maria Pita of the Balmis Expedition was named after her in 1803 5 In August 2008 SASEMAR Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Maritima Spanish acronym for Sea Rescue and Safety Society baptized the BS 14 Rescue Ship as Maria Pita 6 See also editThe Siege of CorunaReferences edit House Museum of Maria Pita Spanish Saavedra Vazquez Maria do Carmen 2006 Maria Pita A Coruna heroine famous for the defense of the city against the English Armesto Victoria 1971 Galicia Feudal in Spanish Editorial Galaxia p 41 Archivo General de Simancas Memorial de 1596 no just no Camara de Castilla atado 772 La Corbeta Maria Pita Spanish Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 28 October 2010 BS Maria Pita Spanish Archived 2011 07 08 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editA Coruna Historical Figures English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maria Pita amp oldid 1208282605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
