María Pita
María Mayor Fernández de Cámara y Pita (1565–1643), known as María Pita, was a heroine in the defense of Coruña, Galicia (northern Spain), against the English Armada attack, an English attack upon the Spanish mainland in 1589. She was born in Sigrás. Defense of Coruña. 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. An English commander with a banner, who was leading the assault to the highest part of the wall, was killed by  Pita who, full of rage, snatched the spear carrying the English banner from the commander and killed him with it. The man was the brother of Admiral Francis Drake.. This demoralized the English troops, composed of 12.000 men, who began to retreat, but María Pita's husband was killed by a crossbow bolt that struck him in the head. María Pita then appeared on the heights of the wall herself, shouting: "Quen tenha 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. 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).