Franziska Scanagatta

She also read widely and went to an excellent convent school - apparently, all this exercising of her mind and body made her feel "like a man.

When he realized what had happened, Francesca's father was flabbergasted and intended to go to Wiener Neustadt to bring her home, but she was so ardent in her wish to be an officer that he relented and allowed her to remain at the academy, where she gained excellent grades and graduated on 16 January 1797 as a Fähnrich (cadet/ensign).

[2] In that rank, Scanagatta joined the 6th composite battalion, Warasdin Grenz District (combined Infanterie Regimenter No.

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.

Promoted to Leutnant in March 1800, Francesca returned to the siege of Genoa in April, but her father informed the Austrian authorities of his daughter's presence in the army.

Back in Milan, Scanagatta met Lieutenant Spini of the Italian Presidential (later Royal) guard, whom she married on 16 January 1804.