The directory «Plots of stamps in the catalogue»

Domenech Agostina

Agostina Domenech (known as Augustina, the "Maid of Saragossa") fought the French who were trying to take over the town of Saragossa when Napoleon put his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. She was offered military rank in 1808.

Byron wrote about her in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, she was immortalised in paint by Goya and her exploits epitomised the Spanish resistance to the French. During the siege of Saragossa Agostina/Manuela Sanchez joined the cannon crew after her fiance was killed.

“And on the morning of the same day the famous Maid of Saragossa, Augustina Sarzella, reappeared amongst the troops, and by her valour won the appointment of commander of a company of the intrepid women led by Doña Burida. The Maid of Saragossa had long practised pointing cannon and firing muskets, and her skill was only equalled by her intrepidity. During the first siege, which had lasted from June to August in 1808, as she was taking provisions to a battery which was suffering so terribly that the gunners were discouraged, she flung herself amongst the dead and dying, tore a linstock from the hands of an expiring artilleryman, put the match to a twenty-four pounder and springing upon the cannon vowed she would not leave it alive. This heroic deed so encouraged the Spanish that they took fresh heart and opened fire on us with renewed vigour”.

Spain, 1939, Augustina d'Aragon

Spain, 1968, Augustina d'Aragon