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The Woman Who Fought Off A Sieging Army With 2 Loaves Of Freshly Baked Bread
A 14th century Portuguese woman used an unusual baking tactic to help save herself and her people from an invading force
Throughout history, war has been visited on countless people for a variety of reasons. A popular tactic from the past was the siege — the act of surrounding and waiting out an enemy until they ran out of food, water and other necessary provisions. Often brutally effective, it could be hard to combat as each passing day tightens the perimeter around the besieged like a proverbial noose. However, one famous instance in history that thwarted an impending invasion was a quick-thinking Portuguese woman in the 14th century who was able to drive away the powerful army by baking a couple of loaves of bread.
In 1369, King Peter of Castile and Leon, who was also perhaps better known by the nickname of “Peter the Cruel,” was murdered by his half-brother at the age of 34, creating a political maelstrom over who would follow him on the throne. Many had eagerly looked forward to him vacating his crown, as he was a domineering ruler, known for his anti-clergy sentiment and persecutions. In fact, prior to his death he had been excommunicated by Pope Urban V.
