Long shining gold-colored hair, cerulean eyes and an intense gaze like none other. Courageous and proud, spotless and fearless, faithful escort of Queen Marie Antoinette of Austria. A still vivid memory in our hearts, that ofbeloved Lady Oscar!
Oh yes, the French heroine of the famous manga that has fascinated and conquered us, relives every time her cartoon is revived on TV. In reality, the character of Lady Oscar is anything but foreign to the story, indeed, there really was a warrior similar to her. Are you curious? Let's start!
The story of Lady Oscar: a woman in command of the Royal Guard
Love, death, battle, the French Revolution… And a magnificent and reckless young woman named Oscar. This is the frame of the television transposition of the famous Riyoko Ikeda manga, appreciated all over the world but especially in Italy. Great party at the court of France, there is an extra child in the kingdom, blond hair and pink cheek Oscar, you will call yourself. The good father wanted a boy but alas you were born, in the cradle they put a foil, lady with a blue bow.
What wonderful memories! It does not even seem to you that you are listening to the sweet voice of Cristina d'Avena, who sings the song of Lady Oscar? Example of strength and determination, it can be said that Oscar was our champion right from the start. He captivated us with his elegance and his inflexible code of honor, and captivated us with his inner dilemma. Yes, because Oscar was born a woman, but at that time in France, at the court of Versailles, it was certainly not easy to be.
Woman? Never!
It was a shock for his father to see that, after having welcomed as many as six females among his offspring, instead of a beautiful boy, an equally wonderful little lady was born. Nonetheless, Oscar was brought up as if she were a man, denying her feminine side, which, however, transpired from his small and delicate movements and his tireless inner strength.
Inflexible and human, almost like a queen, Oscar represented everything a woman had to learn to be, and her teaching is absolutely topical. As much as she had to keep quiet about her true identity, Lady Oscar proved that, just like any man, a determined girl can achieve whatever goal she sets out to do.. Numerous events unfold in the plot, and even today many of us remember the excitement of those moments!
Maria Puteolana, the Lady Oscar of Pozzuoli
We went through childhood memories, in which Lady Oscar colored our school mornings. Few will know, however, that Lady Oscar is in reality a figure that is anything but imaginary. In short, there has never been a real Lady Oscar, but we have tracked down an equally interesting character who seems to be an exact copy! Of Maria Puteolana, the Lady Oscar of Pozzuoli, unfortunately very little is known. She too, like Oscar, preferred to fight for her country rather than relegate herself to anonymity.
One of a kind warrior, Maria is even mentioned by Francesco Petrarch. The latter apparently often visited the area of Pozzuoli, and right here, in 1341, he met Maria at the court of Roberto D'Angiò. According to what Petrarch says, this would not have been the first time he saw the noble armigera. Indeed, he claimed to have met her already when she was only a girl.
Petrarch and Maria Puteolana
He was in charge of Roberto D'Angiò's army, and he had no intention of staying at home mending socks. Maria's plans were quite different, and provided for a total subversion of the then social order, which absolutely did not conceive of seeing a woman as a man. Petrarch he did not fail to praise her in his writings, and thanks to his words of praise we know more about this so charismatic figure: He had unusual and very rare dexterity, strength, age, bearing, the desires of a brave man; not canvases but bows, not needles and mirrors but arrows and bucklers he used, and in his body not kisses and lust but wounds and honored scars. Maria did not know fear: she died with honor defending her beloved Pozzuoli from pirate attacks. Today, the memory of Maria Puteolana lives through Lady Oscar, between past and present, between truth… and legend.
