Maria la Bailadora (d. after 1571), was a Spanish soldier. She famously participated in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 dressed as a man. She is portrayed in the novel Clash of Empires: The Red Sea by William Napier. References 16th-century Spanish women Women in 16th-century warfare 16th-century Spanish military personnel Battle of Lepanto Female wartime cross-dressers Spanish female military personnel