Arnaude de Rocas (Greek: Μαρία Συγκλητική,Μαρία Συγκλητική, polignosi.com (in Greek). Maria Syglitiki, Arnalda di Roca;Antonio Luigi Basso: Arnalda di Roca, Sambolino (tip.), 1871Συγκλητικοί οικογένεια - Η θρυλική οικογένεια των Συγκλητικών της Κύπρου, polignosi.com (in Greek). died 1570) is a legendary figure from Cyprus, remembered there as a martyrCelebrating the 1821 Bicentennial, pahellenicfoundation.org of the Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573).
Biography According to legend, Maria (Arnalda) was the daughter of Eugene Syglitikos (Zegno Singlitico, count of Roccas/Rochas),"Zegno II was the son of Count Zacho I. He spent his adult life partly in Cyprus and partly in Venice. From 1551 to 1553, he served as viscount of Nicosia and ten years later, following the death of his father, he inherited the title of count of Roccas." in: M. Olympios and M. Parani (eds): The Art and Archaeology of Lusignan and Venetian Cyprus (1192–1571), academia.edu, p. 332 and p.345Benjamin Arbel: Greek Magnates in Venetian Cyprus: The Case of the Synglitico Family, jstor.org who was killed in battle when the Ottoman Turks took Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, on 9 September 1570 after a long siege.3.2. The siege and conquest of Lefkosia, in ESCUTIS Cyprus study, earthlab.uoi.gr, p.12 Allegedly, she died in an explosion one or two days thereafter. It is said that she managed to set fire to the powder kegs of the ship, while the ship was still in Famagusta Bay."Amongst the captives was Maria Syglitiki, a Greek noblewoman, who refusing to be disgraced, managed to set fire to the powder kegs of the ship, while the ship was still in Famagusta Bay.": 3.2. The siege and conquest of Lefkosia, in ESCUTIS Cyprus study, earthlab.uoi.gr, p.13
Arnaude had come to the front lines to help prepare bandages for the wounded fighters who were defending the fort, which was the custom for women at that time. The defending forces repelled two assaults, but not the third, and the fortress fell. Arnaude hid in an underground chapel with her father, where she tended to his mortal wounds. When Turkish soldiers found the daughter and her dying father, Arnaude's captors indicated that she would be destined for slavery in the harem of Sultan Selim II.
She was taken to the central square where she joined about 800 other young Cypriot women also bound for enslavement. The women were loaded onto a ship at the port of Limassol. The ship was scheduled to sail the next day for Constantinople. During the night, however, the entire vessel exploded, killing everyone on board including the young women who had all, it is reported, chosen death rather than slavery. Arnaude is credited with causing the explosion by using a lamp to set fire to the ship's powder store as the guards slept.
See also Bernardo de Opuo Slavery in Cyprus
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