Antónia Rodrigues

Antónia Rodrigues (Aveiro, Portugal, 1580-?), was a Portuguese soldier and national heroine.

She dressed herself as a man, adopted the name of António Rodrigues and joined the crew of a ship loaded with wheat that was heading to the Portuguese territory of Mazagan, in Morocco.

After her arrival at Mazagan she enlisted in the local infantry. She made herself noted for her campaigns against the moors and had a successful military career. She was eventually discovered, but married a colleague and was decorated for service by Philip II of Portugal. After she retired from service, she lived an anonymous civil life in Portugal and was no longer heard of.

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