Italy
During Charles I of Anjou’s siege of the Italian city of Messina during the Sicilian Vespers in August 1282, his troops tried to invade the city from the hills on the night of 8 August.
Two Messinese women, Dina and Clarenza, were standing guard on the wall. As soon as they saw the soldiers, they did everything they could to repel the attack. While Dina continually hurled rocks down on the enemy soldiers, Clarenza rang the bells in the campanile of the Duomo, waking the entire city. The Messinese rushed to defend their city and repelled the attack. Dina and Clarenza became symbols of courage and Messinese civilians’ devotion to their city.