Franziska Scanagatta

Franziska Scanagatta (also called Francesca Scanagatta) was an Italian woman who disguised herself as a man in order to attend the Austria's Military Academy in 1794. She received an ensign's commission in 1797. She served during the French Revolution and was promoted to lieutenant in 1800. In 1801 she left the army undiscovered and was granted the pension by Kaiser Franz II when he learned of her story.