Franziska Scanagatta

Franziska Scanagatta or Francesca Scanagatta (1 August 1776 – 1865) was an Italian woman who served as an officer in the army of the Habsburg monarchy after disguising herself as a man in order to enter the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt in 1794.

Admitted under the male identity "Franz Scanagatta", she completed the academy's course of study and in 1797 was commissioned as a Fähnrich (ensign) in the army of the Holy Roman Empire. She subsequently served during the French Revolutionary Wars and was promoted to Leutnant (lieutenant) in 1800.

Around 1792, when she was about fifteen years old, the Scanagatta family moved from Milan to Treviso. The move took place during a period of growing political instability in Europe, as the conflicts that followed the French Revolution began to affect the territories of northern Italy.

In February 1799, she marched with her company to the War of the Second Coalition, but en route suffered a severe attack of rheumatism. After two months' ill health and recuperation, she was transferred to the Deutsch-Banater Grenz Regiment No.12 and travelled to its base at Pancsova in the area, which is now northern Serbia.

With GR12, Scanagatta marched to Italy, where she continued to show her determination and endured exhausting marches, relying on her motto: "Una verace risoluta virtù non trova impresa impossibile a lei" (Real strength of mind finds nothing impossible). When one of Francesca's army comrades teased her for being small, she challenged him to a duel and wounded him.

In December 1799, she led the attack on the French trenches at Barbagelata. Over the winter, she spent time with her family and they tried to persuade her to leave the army. Her mother had noticed medical issues arising from tying down her bosom underneath the uniform.

Promoted to Leutnant in March 1800, Scanagatta returned to the siege of Genoa in April, but her father informed the Austrian authorities of his daughter's presence in the army. She was obliged to resign on the very day Genoa fell, 4 June 1800. Her commander, Friedrich Heinrich von Gottesheim, held a party in her honour, where she was still treated as an ordinary officer.