Spanish Military Figure. Her spirited defense of the city of Zaragoza during the Spanish War of Independence (part of the Napoleonic Wars) greatly inspired Spanish troops in the fight against the French Army. She became an officer in the Spanish Army and later, served as an officer in British General Duke of Wellington’s Army, fighting in the Battle of Vitoria. At an age when women did not join the military, she inspired feminists to ask for more authority and rights for women. Born Agustina Raimunda Maria Saragossa Domenech, in Reus, Catalunya, Spain, Agustina was interested in the military at an early age, often hanging around military barracks, and reportedly married a Spanish soldier, Joan Roca Vila-Seca, at the age of 16. During the siege of Zaragoza by French forces under Napoleon during the summer of 1808, she arrived at the city ramparts with a basket of apples for the soldiers just as the French Army launched an attack. The Spanish troops broke under the attack, and with French troops just yards away, Agustina loaded a cannon and fired it, hitting the French at point blank range. She continued to reload and fire the cannon, and the Spanish troops, inspired by her example, returned to their positions, to repel the French assault on the city. Although the assault failed, the French continued to besiege the city, and two weeks later, the city surrendered. Agustina was captured, and shortly afterwards, made a daring escape. Going to the countryside, she then organized a group of Spanish guerrilla fighters, and began to raid the French. When the Duke of Wellington entered Spain with the British Army, she joined with him, and was made a Captain in the British Army. During the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813, Wellington’s Army smashed the French Army in Spain, and drove them from the country. After the war, Agustina married a doctor, and settled down in Zaragoza to raise her family. She was a common site walking around the city, where she served as an inspiration to women throughout Spain. She died at the age of 71 in Ceuta, Spain.
Spanish Military Figure. Her spirited defense of the city of Zaragoza during the Spanish War of Independence (part of the Napoleonic Wars) greatly inspired Spanish troops in the fight against the French Army. She became an officer in the Spanish Army and later, served as an officer in British General Duke of Wellington’s Army, fighting in the Battle of Vitoria. At an age when women did not join the military, she inspired feminists to ask for more authority and rights for women. Born Agustina Raimunda Maria Saragossa Domenech, in Reus, Catalunya, Spain, Agustina was interested in the military at an early age, often hanging around military barracks, and reportedly married a Spanish soldier, Joan Roca Vila-Seca, at the age of 16. During the siege of Zaragoza by French forces under Napoleon during the summer of 1808, she arrived at the city ramparts with a basket of apples for the soldiers just as the French Army launched an attack. The Spanish troops broke under the attack, and with French troops just yards away, Agustina loaded a cannon and fired it, hitting the French at point blank range. She continued to reload and fire the cannon, and the Spanish troops, inspired by her example, returned to their positions, to repel the French assault on the city. Although the assault failed, the French continued to besiege the city, and two weeks later, the city surrendered. Agustina was captured, and shortly afterwards, made a daring escape. Going to the countryside, she then organized a group of Spanish guerrilla fighters, and began to raid the French. When the Duke of Wellington entered Spain with the British Army, she joined with him, and was made a Captain in the British Army. During the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813, Wellington’s Army smashed the French Army in Spain, and drove them from the country. After the war, Agustina married a doctor, and settled down in Zaragoza to raise her family. She was a common site walking around the city, where she served as an inspiration to women throughout Spain. She died at the age of 71 in Ceuta, Spain.
Bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni
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