Vaccine Women

The Vacceas were brave women who threw themselves into the fight to defend their land, and gave proof of their courage. In 220 BC Salamanca was known as Helmantica and was the scene of fighting between the Carthaginians and the Romans. At that time, the Carthaginian army, commanded by the general Hannibal Barca, had occupied Helmantica by surprise, without giving the Vacceans time to defend themselves. Three hundred talents of silver and as many hostages together with a promise of submission and compliance was the price Hannibal accepted in exchange for lifting the siege of the city. Promises that the Vacceans forgot when the Carthaginian general left. But they were wrong to think that Hannibal would consent to such contempt. Learning of the insubordination he returned to Helmantica. The Vacceans this time surrendered unconditionally, being forced to abandon their arms, property and slaves and leave the city as prisoners.
The women, on the other hand, showed no sign of despondency, standing upright, wrapped in their loose tunics, they passed unsearched by the soldiers. Taking advantage of this advantage, the brave women of the Vaccea, with the daggers and swords of their men hidden under their tunics, when the time came to act, took out their daggers and swords and handed them to their husbands, companions, sons and brothers, to undertake the reconquest of the city together. One of the women even took an active part in the fight. Thus they managed to defeat Hannibal’s invincible army, who, admiring the women’s bravery, spared the city and did not destroy it.

Source: https://mujeresypatrimonio.org/blog/ciudad-vieja-de-salamanca/